Macroom murder victim Michael Foley will live on through his grandchildren, funeral told

Mr Foley was a kind-hearted 'gentleman', and would 'do anything for you' mourners heard

The funeral cortege for the late Michael Foley making its way up Western Road after requiem mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

The man found dead in a pool of blood in his sheltered accommodation in Macroom, Co Cork, will live on through his grandchildren, his funeral was told.

The family of Michael Foley gathered at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clonakilty on Monday afternoon for his requiem Mass. He was later laid to rest in St Mary’s cemetery outside the town.

The 61-year-old, who was originally from Scartagh, Clonakilty, was found in the kitchen of his sheltered accommodation at Annville, Barrett’s Place, Macroom, at about 1pm last Tuesday by a care worker who went to check on him. He had moved there about a year ago.

A murder investigation is under way after an autopsy confirmed he had suffered a violent death.

During the prayers of the faithful at his funeral Mass, one mourner told the congregation that Michael “will live on through your grandchildren who adored you and they will always get told about you, their grandad, the best there was”. 

At the beginning of the ceremony, his friend Ciss O’Driscoll described him as a “gentleman”, who was kind-hearted and would “do anything for you”.

A wreath for the late Michael Foley at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Clonakilty, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Celebrant Fr Fergus Tuohy said the death had shocked and saddened everyone, but told mourners that while their lives had changed with Michael’s death, they would remember him every day.

His coffin, covered with the Irish flag, was wheeled out of the church by relatives, through a guard of honour featuring his fishing rods.

The rods were earlier taken to the altar by family members as mementoes of his life.

Some relatives wore t-shirts with a photo of Michael on them.

Mourners were led by his daughters, his father Mickie and siblings. Prayers were offered for his late mother Kitty during the ceremony.

Large floral tributes bearing photos of Michael were placed at the altar before the Mass, including one in the shape of a heart featuring cream flowers and trimmed in blue. Others bearing the words Uncle and Dad and Brother were also brought by relatives.

Neighbours had raised concern for his welfare because he had not been seen in the area for a number of days. He had been living in Annville for about a year.

It is believed he had been dead for a few days before his body was found.

As his funeral took place, gardaí kept a presence in the area as investigations continue into the killing.

The property where the Mr Foley was found was technically and forensically examined. House-to-house inquiries have been carried out and CCTV is being looked at to determine his last known movements.

It is the second tragedy to hit the Foley family in recent years.

In October 2018, his younger brother, 44-year-old Timmy, died after being stabbed 28 times by his 48-year-old ex-wife, Rita O’Driscoll, also in Macroom.

Ms O’Driscoll is now serving a life sentence for the murder of her ex-husband at Dan Corkery Place in the town.

She had claimed she had acted in self defence and appealed her conviction. However, her appeal was later dismissed in the Court of Appeal, which ruled that the trial judge’s rulings had been “unimpeachable”.

Anyone with information regarding Michael Foley's death is asked to contact gardaí in Macroom, Co Cork, on 026 20590, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111, or any Garda station.