Horse breeder shot dead on return from funeral

THE horse breeder shot dead at his home in Co Waterford yesterday is believed to have interrupted intruders at his stud farm.

Bachelor Dick Forristal, in his 60s, died from wounds sustained from his own legally held shotgun.

Gardaí said last night the death was “suspicious” but the inquiry will be upgraded today to a murder hunt.

Detectives sealed off the 100-acre Carrigavantry Stud farm, about a mile from Tramore. A friend of Mr Forristal discovered the body yesterday afternoon.

Well-known in the south east as a breeder, Mr Forristal had been the victim of a number of break-ins in recent months. Furniture and other items had been stolen from his house on several occasions and a shotgun was also taken.

Locals revealed Mr Forristal had a loaded shotgun behind his kitchen door, fearing further attacks.

They believe he may have surprised at least one raider, and possibly two, after returning home from the funeral of Turkish bus bomb victim Tara Whelan.

Mr Forristal may possibly have reached for the gun but was shot in a struggle.

A breeder and racehorse owner, one of his horses Blue Corrig is among the favourites at Galway Races next week.

Mr Forristal had earlier attended the funeral, in nearby Kilmeaden, of Ms Whelan.

Her mother, Frances, and 19-year-old sister Lisa are also involved in horse training at their home in Ballyduff and were good friends of Mr Forristal and another trainer, Pat Flavin, who lives nearby.

Local garda superintendent Jerry Lynch was remaining tight-lipped about the investigation last night, as State Pathologist Marie Cassidy conducted a post mortem.

The leafy area around the man’s home was sealed off last night, as were several areas just up the narrow, winding road from his home.

Local publican Martha Power said Mr Forristal would come in on occasions with local farmers.

“He was a lovely man, not a drinking man at all. He’d never have a pint. He’d come in though with the local farmers. It’s terrible to think this sort of thing has come to us here in Tramore,” the publican on Queen Street said.

Local councillor Ben Gavin described Mr Forristal as a hard-working man, a leader in the community who regularly collected at Sunday Mass.

“Everyone knew him. He was very friendly, a pillar of the community. He will be sadly missed. It is a terrible atrocity and the whole town is completely shocked.”