Irishman and wife shot dead in South Africa

AN Irish man and his wife who lived in South Africa are believed to have been shot dead by the woman’s father, who later admitted to a friend that “he had made a mess”.

Kevin McGuirk, 53, originally from Dublin, who had lived in South Africa for several years, was found dead beside his South African-born wife, Kim McGuirk, in their home in Alberton on the outskirts of Johannesburg on Tuesday.

According to South African police, the woman’s father, Edwin Topping, 75, who lived with the couple, shot them with a legally held firearm after a row on Monday night. A police official said Mr Topping admitted that he had made a mess in a telephone call to a friend the following day, who then alerted the police.

When police arrived at the scene of the shooting, Mr Topping confessed that he had killed his daughter and son-in-law.

It is understood that Mr Topping talked freely about the murders when questioned by police.

“He seemed pretty calm and confessed straightaway to what happened,” the police official said.

“His firearm was fully licensed and he was allowed to hold it at his home. So far he has given no indication of why he committed this act,” he said.

The McGuirks’ bodies were found lying on the bedroom floor when police arrived.

“The man had been shot in the back and the woman had been shot in the head,” said the police official.

Mr Topping, who had his firearm confiscated by police, was arrested at the scene and later charged with two counts of murder. He is expected to appear in court later this week.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said consular assistance was being provided to Mr McGuirk’s family.

Mr McGuirk, who has a number of children from a previous marriage, ran a successful scuba diving business with his wife called Africa Diving Tours.

A close friend of the couple said that they had a passion for life and for people.