Bullet sent to official 'over housing decision'

A miniature coffin and bullet sent to the home of a senior Roscommon Co Council official on Christmas Eve may have been in revenge for an unpopular housing decision, it was claimed tonight.

Gardai launched an investigation after the package was sent with a letter to the home near Athlone of Roscommon Co Manager John Tiernan.

Tonight a former colleague of Mr Tiernan said the note made it clear that it was linked to a decision he made at Roscommon County Council.

Brian Johnson, Chairman of the County and City Managers Association, said he had spoken to Mr Tiernan, and that the action was linked to “a certain decision he had to make to prepare accommodation for the less well-off in society“.

He said that incidents of this kind had happened in the past to county managers.

“This has to be utterly condemned by any well-meaning and decent person,” Mr Johnson said.

“County managers have a job to do and sometimes you have good news to convey and bad news to convey.

“But in this case I can assure everyone that they are dealing with a very honourable, decent and conscientious man and there is no need for that type of activity at all. I hope that the thug or thugs that sent this stuff to him are apprehended and brought before the courts.”

He said it was a “disgrace” that the package was sent to Mr Tiernan’s family home at Christmas.

“It goes to show the mentality of some thugs that are out there,” he said.

He added: “Mr Tiernan is a resolute man. He will do his job, he is an excellent official and I know he will be annoyed by this but he will be more concerned for his family than himself personally.”

Although Mr Tiernan was today back at work in Roscommon he refused to comment on the incident.

Gardai said they had spoken to members of An Post as part of their investigation, in order to establish where the package was sent from.

They refused to comment on the motives behind the incident.