Shock and horror of murder-suicide spreads to Buttevant

Children, watched by their parents, took to the swings in the local playground on the main street as dusk broke in Buttevant, blissfully unaware of the tragedy that had unfolded in the nearby park, just down the little lane across the road, only hours before.

Many in the town were caught unaware. Locals deep in conversation along the main street told of how the first they had heard of the death of Jonathan O’Driscoll in the popular nearby walk was on the news, in connection with a story that shocked the community.

Some had just attended a funeral, and first heard of the deaths of two little boys in neighbouring Charleville on the radio before hearing a flurry of sirens tear through the village.

Little did they realise that the appalling story emerging from Charleville was spreading, engulfing their community.

Much like the news of the boys’ deaths, the connection was made for locals via the news. No one knew the young man, but many stopped and blessed themselves as they walked along the main street and past the laneway he walked down on his final journey.

“I’m sick since I heard it,” one woman said.

“I had heard the news, and the commotion as all the sirens went by outside the church but I had no idea it had anything to do with it,” said another.

One woman, whose house backs onto the Castle lands, which has hosted point-to-point races since the 18th century, said she never believed such a thing could happen so close to her home.

Shortly after 8.30pm, as darkness fell, a single black hearse came down Buttevant’s Main St, turned down Mill Lane, and turned right through the gates that led to the closed-off area, popular with locals for walking and fishing.

It would take over an hour before it returned with the body of a young man who has left behind so many unanswered questions.

Supt Pat McCarthy is leading the investigation into the discovery of the three bodies.

* Gardaí in Charleville are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any station.