Murder victim’s family pleads for justice

THE FAMILY of murder victim Siobhan Kearney made an impassioned plea yesterday for her killer to be caught.

Calls for “truth and justice” were made during the Prayers of the Faithful at a funeral Mass in Dalkey, Co Dublin.

The body of the 38-year-old mother of one was discovered in the bedroom of her home at Knocknashee, Goatstown, on January 31.

“God of wisdom and compassion, we ask you to guide all of those who work to seek truth and justice for our beautiful Siobhan,” said Ann Brennan on behalf of the family yesterday.

More than 500 mourners attended the requiem mass at the Church of the Assumption in Dalkey, Co Dublin, which was concelebrated by local parish priest Fr John McDonagh and family friend Fr Ivan Tonge.

Siobhan’s husband, Brian Kearney, sat separately from Siobhan’s family. A death notice printed in newspapers made no reference to Mr Kearney and referred to Siobhan by her maiden name, McLaughlin.

Chief mourners were her parents, Deirdre and Owen, her sisters, Brighid, Deirdre, Aisling, Caroline, Ann Marie and Niamh and brother, Owen.

It is understood that Siobhan’s three-year-old son, Dan, was being looked after by friends.

At the start of the ceremony, Siobhan’s sisters, Brighid and Niamh, brought a photograph of her son to the altar and placed it alongside a large portrait photo of the dead woman.

Brighid, who is a Sunday Independent journalist, also read out the WH Auden poem Funeral Blues.

In a moving tribute, Siobhan’s sister Caroline recalled her devotion to her son, Dan, demonstrated by how after he had recently lost his favourite toy, she spent more than five hours going around to garda stations to see if anyone had found it.

Music was provided by several well-known singers and musicians including Moya Brennan, Ronan Hardiman, Leslie Dowdall and Paul Harrington.

After the funeral Mass, Siobhan’s coffin was brought to Redford Cemetery in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

Gardaí investigating her murder believe she was strangled with the flex of a vacuum cleaner but that her body was left in a position designed to make them think that she had committed suicide.

The focus of the investigation is now concentrated on testing the alibi of the chief suspect, who was someone well-known to Siobhan.

It is understood that the suspect had been at the victim’s house before, which could limit the potential use of DNA traces found at the scene in any criminal prosecution.

Gardaí arrested and questioned the main suspect last Thursday about Siobhan’s murder but he was later released without charge.