Killers own up

TEENAGE attackers who beat a father-of-two to death came forward and confessed yesterday.

As Oliver Lacey’s sons struggled to make sense of their father’s sudden and brutal death, a number of the attackers handed themselves in to gardaí.

Mr Lacey, a widower, was subjected to a savage beating by a group of youths on the driveway of his home in Leixlip, Co Kildare, late on Friday night.

The 51-year-old, described as a Good Samaritan, went to the aid of two young people who were fleeing the mob.

The attackers, mostly from Clondalkin, west Dublin, were aged in their mid to late teens.

Mr Lacey’s eldest son, Oliver Jnr, helped two friends who had sought refuge from the gang of around 10 youths.

He was also assaulted and all three fled into the house.

Mr Lacey’s brother Noel said that after a while his brother went out to see if it was okay for the boys to leave.

“He left the house to check the coast was clear and he was set upon,” he said.

He was beaten with a blunt instrument and collapsed on his driveway, while his son looked on helpless.

Mr Lacey said his brother was a “small man, not violent in any way, a harmless individual”.

He said the death underlined why people didn’t go to help other people.

“On Friday night, I was reading an article on why people don’t go to other people’s assistance. It’s very obvious now why.”

Mr Lacey’s youngest son Mark yesterday said: “My dad didn’t deserve to die like that. I was not here unfortunately, I was at my girlfriend’s. My other brother was here.”

He welcomed the fact that the attackers had confessed.

Supt Mark Curran of Lucan Garda Station yesterday said they had identified all those responsible.

“We’re happy we’ve identified the culprits in this case. We’ve spoken to people who said they did it,” Supt Curran said.

He said a lot of those involved had come forward, most of them accompanied by an adult.

“A couple were very cooperative and made statements to us.”

He said only a “small number” of the 10 attackers were involved in the assault.

He added that the statements, together with forensic evidence, would form part of a file for the DPP.

Mr Lacey’s removal will take place at Our Lady’s Nativity this evening, followed by funeral Mass tomorrow morning.