Man held as part of probe into schoolteacher’s death

A ROMANIAN man has been remanded in custody charged with withholding information in connection with the ongoing murder investigation into the death of schoolteacher and publican, John Kenny.

Separated father-of-two, Florin Fitzpatrick, aged 37, of The Green, College Road, Galway, appeared in custody before a special sitting of Galway District Court yesterday.

The accused man is charged with withholding information from gardaí between September 25 and October 1 last, which he knew or believed might be of assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of any other person, in relation to the unlawful death of 56-year-old John Kenny, at his pub at Main Street, Oughterard, Co Galway.

Detective Sergeant Tom Molloy gave evidence of arresting the former security guard at Galway bus station at 8.19pm on Saturday night and of charging him a half an hour later at Mill Street Garda station.

He said the accused replied “No” when the charge was put to him.

Superintendent Noel Kelly objected to bail due to the seriousness of the charge and because he believed the man also posed a flight risk

Valerie Corcoran, defending, said her client had lived in Ireland for 10 years and had worked as a security guard at Galway bus station for seven years. She said he had been married to an Irish woman for five years and had two Irish children but was now separated.

Judge Mary Fahy refused bail and she remanded the accused in custody to appear before Harristown District Court next Friday, October 7 for DPP’s directions.

The body of Mr Kenny was found on Sunday, September 25, lying on the floor of a room in his pub. A postmortem examination carried out on Mr Kenny’s body by state pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy showed that his death was the result of an assault.