Gardaí appeal for further information on killing

GARDAÍ investigating the death of a 38-year-old man, following a row outside a pub after the All-Ireland, yesterday said some people who may have important information are not fully co-operating with them.

Gerard O’Leary, of Coolroe, Killorglin, Co Kerry, died at Cork University Hospital (CUH) last Monday, a week after sustaining serious head injuries in Milltown, Co Kerry, on the night thousands of Kerry football fans were celebrating an All-Ireland victory.

He had been in a coma since the incident, which took place between midnight and 12.30am on September 27, and had undergone emergency brain surgery at CUH.

Mr O’Leary, a single man who had a concrete products business, is believed to have been set upon by at least two other men, was struck in the face and fell heavily to the ground outside Cosgrove’s pub in Milltown.

Inspector Barry O’Rourke, who is heading the investigation, said they were following a definite line of inquiry and making good progress, though no arrests had yet been made.

Gardaí described it as a case of unlawful killing, the third suspicious death to have occurred in Kerry in six weeks.

Inspector O’Rourke said the incident leading to Mr O’Leary’s death was treated very seriously from the beginning.

“We’ve interviewed a lot of people. There are others we’re anxious to speak to and a small number of people have not been as forthcoming as we believe they could have been,” he said.

People in the close-knit, rural community in mid-Kerry were trying to come to terms with Mr O’Leary’s death and were supporting his elderly parents, brother Kevin and sister Miriam.

Family members and relatives had maintained a vigil at his bedside as he battled for survival. A post-mortem examination was held at CUH yesterday.

Mr O’Leary was described as an unassuming man, with a passion for motorbikes.

“He came from a farming background and worked very hard at his concrete business. He was very well known in the area and devoted to his family,” said one neighbour.

Gardaí, meanwhile, have renewed their appeal to anyone who passed through Milltown around the time of the fatal incident to come forward if they feel they have any information that might be of assistance.

An incident room has been set up in Killorglin garda station. Tel: [phone].