Murdered man ‘is now reunited with beloved wife’

Seán McCárthaigh, Leixlip

The funeral service for Oliver Leacy, 51 heard how he had finally found peace after carrying “an air of sadness” for years since the death of his wife, Susan.

The former panel beater, who had retired early due to illness, died as a result of

being beaten up by a gang of up to 10 youths outside his home at Celbridge Road, Leixlip, Co Kildare, in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

Mr Leacy, had gone to the assistance of two friends of his son who had sought help after being chased by the group.

He died from his injuries a short time later as a result of several violent kicks and punches which he received during the unprovoked attack.

The parish priest of Our Lady’s Nativity Church in Leixlip, Fr Michael Hurley, said yesterday that the dead man has constantly opposed injustice.

“A feature of Oliver’s life is that he resisted injustice and sided with the underdog,” he told the large congregation in the small church.

Chief mourners were Mr Leacy’s sons, Oliver, 23, and Mark, 22; his mother, Josie, and brothers, Liam, Joe, Noel and Francis.

Mr Leacy’s wife died in a road traffic accident in the early 1990s.

In a short, moving tribute, the victim’s eldest son, Oliver, recalled how his father had always displayed an air of sadness since his mother’s death.

“That sadness was a lot more potent in recent years but I take comfort in the fact that he is now at peace,” said Mr Leacy.

“It is his reward for the good thing that he did, for his bravery. He is happier in heaven than he could ever be on earth. He is back with the most precious thing that he ever had,” he told the crowded church.

Earlier, mass-goers heard how Mr Leacy was born and grew up on the road where he lived. Fr Hurley described how he had spent some years working in Denmark and England before returning to “his ancestral home” following the death of his wife.

“People who knew him well told me that he was an outstanding panel-beater until arthritis slowed him down,” said Fr Hurley.

“He was well-known within the community and people enjoyed his witty and quiet style.”

The parish priest pointed out that Mr Leacy’s tragic death was a reminder to everyone that they are living in strange times where the most precious gift of life “is, at times, all to easily and needlessly taken away.”

At the end of the funeral mass, Mr Leacy’s coffin was borne out of the church by his sons and four brothers before burial a short time later at Donacomper Cemetery in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

The congregation also included a large number of gardaí who were involved in the investigation in Mr Leacy’s death.

It is understood that gardaí have now identified most of the members of the gang which attacked Mr Leacy.