Kieran Quilligan a 'superhero who adored his family', mourners told 

Murdered Cork man was 'too good for this world', his mother says at funeral of 47-year-old whose remains were found dumped on roadside

Mourners at the funeral of Kieran Quilligan at the Church of the Way of the Cross in Togher, Cork.

Kieran Quilligan, whose skeletal remains were found dumped on a roadside in Cork last week, died "the victim of a brutal act", a priest told mourners at his funeral Mass.

The body of the 47-year-old, who was last seen alive in Cork city on September 1 last year, was found in a gully just off the main Midleton to Whitegate road in East Cork. Two men were charged earlier this week with his murder.

His funeral Mass was celebrated today by Fr John Walsh at the Church of the Way of the Cross in Togher, on the southside of Cork city.

Mourners were led by Mr Quilligan’s parents Kathleen and Steven and his siblings Trevor, Karen, Stephen, Roy, and Pamela.

Fr Walsh told his family and friends that no one can claim for themselves the right to take the life of someone else.

Kieran Quilligan 'adored our grandkids, his nieces and nephews. He idolised the children,' said his mother.

“There are times when things are not ok and this is one of them,” he said.

That Kieran died the way he did is not ok. His life was ended the victim of a brutal act.

“That there was pain, ugliness, and hopelessness in the world doesn’t mean that you have to let your life be defined by it," he said.

Death never has the last word. Any faith must face evil straight on.

“Hearing of the death of your child is a moment that will never be forgotten,” he told mourners.

“A heart is broken by the absolute tragedy of a life cut short either by illness or through violence. Life can end at any moment and many families know the horror of sudden death.

“Faith in God insists that every single life is precious and to bury your dead with dignity is a most sacred duty. There is today a sense that at last this horrible wait is now over.”

Mr Quilligan's mother Kathleen claimed that he was just "too good for this world".

She wept openly throughout her eulogy, during which she described him as a superhero who adored his family.

Addressing the congregation before the Mass, Ms Quilligan said she wanted to tell them what kind of person her son was.

“From his youngest of days, I can always remember him thinking he was Bruce Lee before he could even walk properly,” she said.

“Then he went on to his karate. He loved his superheroes. He loved Tupac. 

“He adored our grandkids, his nieces and nephews. He idolised the children."

Among the items brought to the altar were a toy sword, two framed family photographs, and a helmet.

Mr Quilligan’s remains were taken to the Island Crematorium in Ringaskiddy afterwards for cremation.

Mr Quilligan, who was originally from Bakers Rd in Gurranabraher, left his accommodation at Cork Simon’s emergency shelter on Anderson’s Quay at 8.30pm on September 1. He was last seen alive on CCTV footage at St Finbarr’s Place in Cork city at 9.15pm.

While the investigation into his disappearance was officially classed as a missing person’s case, gardaí were from a very early stage concerned for his safety and wellbeing.

Within weeks of his disappearance, they conducted searches of farmland and shoreline in the Little Island area before new information led them to mount a major search operation near Whitegate, south of Midleton, last week, involving specially-trained cadaver dogs.

A Garda team searches the undergrowth on the  Midleton to Whitegate road.  Picture: Dan Linehan

Just a few hours into the first day of searching on January 29, Mr Quilligan’s skeletal remains were found in a large bag at the bottom of an overgrown gully just off the main Midleton to Whitegate road.

Days later, two men were arrested for questioning about his disappearance and on Tuesday, Niall Long, 31, with an address in Mahon, and Luke Taylor, 26, of no fixed abode, were bought before Cork District Court charged with the murder of Kieran Quilligan at a place within the State on a date unknown between September 1 and January 29, contrary to common law.

Mr Long made no reply to the charge after caution, the court was told.

Mr Taylor replied: “I didn’t murder no one” when the charge was put to him after caution.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded both men in custody to appear again on February 24 by video link from Cork Prison. She also granted both men free legal aid.