Suburban serenity belies savagery of fatal attack

THERE wasn’t the slightest sign of the appalling violence that had taken place just over two days ago. A small white gate gave way on one side to a tall rose bush and shrubs, and on the other side to a hedge.

The neat driveway led to a small green van and behind that a red car.

Two white butterflies fluttered over where Oliver Lacey had slumped. The pretty bungalow, in a settled middle class area in scenic Leixlip, Co Kildare, did not fit the location for senseless violence.

Yet, around midnight last Friday, Mr Lacey’s life ended after he was beaten to death by a group of youths aged in their teens.

He had given refuge to two youths, friends of his eldest son, Oliver junior, who were fleeing the gang.

After a short while, he went out to see if it was safe for them to leave. As he walked down the driveway he was jumped on and beaten with a blunt instrument.

Mr Lacey’s brother Noel said Oliver jnr couldn’t do anything to help his dad.

“There was a gang of 10 or 12 youths. He was also set upon, though not badly injured, but there was nothing he could do at the time.”

Noel said his brother was the youngest of six boys.

“He was a quiet inoffensive man, very well-known in the general community and a character,” he said.

Mr Lacey’s son Mark was struggling to find words outside the family home.

“This is a nightmare for our family. My dad was a good guy. He was a quiet guy, a retired panel beater.”

Meanwhile, garda appeals to the parents of the attackers to contact them paid off. Some of the attackers, accompanied by parents came forward and gave statements to gardaí, saying they had been involved and knew the identity of others.

Supt Mark Curran of Lucan Garda Station said: “They’ve come in and co-operated with us. This will help us a huge amount in our investigation.”