Family hope to repatriate man shot dead in US

The family of an Irishman shot dead in the US at the weekend say they are hoping to bring his body back to his native town for burial.

Tom Walsh, 43, originally from Templemore in Co Tipperary, was shot at point-blank range at the restaurant he helped to manage in Florida late on Saturday night. Police are searching for his killer.

His brother, Brian Walsh, said the family was concentrating on bringing Tom’s remains home to Ireland for burial.

The youngest of eight children, Tom’s father died a number of years ago. His mother Elizabeth Walsh was told of the killing on Sunday evening.

“She’s in a state of shock now, it’s almost surreal,” said Brian. “It’s not a thing you ever expect to have to deal with.”

It is understood that Tom — who left home in 1994 to travel to Europe and then the US — was counting the takings at the Mainstreet Grill restaurant in DeLand, near Daytona Beach, after the business had closed for the evening when an armed raider burst in, shot him and escaped with a small amount of cash.

He was found after 11pm by an employee but had been killed instantly. His remains are at an undertaker’s in Florida and a memorial service will be held tomorrow in St Peter’s Catholic Church, attended by his 12-year-old daughter Kira, his American ex-wife Lisa Bennett, and his friends. His family in Ireland hope his body can be repatriated by the weekend.

“We just want to get him home because he would have wanted to be buried at home,” said Brian yesterday, adding that Tom’s daughter was “devastated”.

Tom regularly came home on visits — always bringing his daughter — and last summer ran in an event organised by the Templemore Athletic Club, of which he was a member before emigrating in 1994.

“He was even collecting money on the gate for the club when he was back,” said Brian. “It was like he was never away.”

Tom sometimes spoke about returning to Ireland to live when his daughter was old enough to go to college, according to his brother.

“He was the nicest guy you could ever meet. An absolute gentleman, an absolute all-round nice guy. He was really suited to the industry he was in because he was very good with people.”

Tom owned a computer business in Florida and managed the Mainstreet Grill on a part-time basis, having been one of the founder managers when it opened in 1996.

The restaurant remained closed on Sunday but re-opened the following day.