Two arrested as man who died following alleged assault in Kerry is named locally 

The man who died has been named locally as Gerard Kennelly

Emergency services attended the scene at around 12.30am following reports of an alleged assault in Knockanure. Picture: Domnick Walsh 

Two men have been arrested after a man died following an alleged assault in Co Kerry in the early hours of Monday morning. 

Gardaí are currently investigating all the circumstances surrounding the death of the man which happened in Knockanure. 

Emergency services attended the scene at around 12.30am following reports of an alleged assault in the village. 

A man, aged 44, was discovered with fatal injuries. He has been named locally as Gerard Kennelly. Mr Kennelly a local man is from a farming background. It is understood he spent a number of years in Australia where a number of siblings still reside.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body has since been removed to University Hospital Kerry for an autopsy. 

A man, aged in his 20s, was arrested on Monday afternoon in connection with the investigation.

He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the Kerry Division.

On Monday morning, a man aged in his 30s was also arrested in connection with the incident.

He is from west Limerick and remains in custody this afternoon.

A decision on whether to upgrade the investigation has not yet been made and is dependent on the outcome of an autopsy.

Door-to-door enquiries are continuing in the area, which is a very rural area between Moyvane and Listowel.

The local Coroner has been informed and the services of the State Pathologist have been requested. 

The scene is currently sealed off for the Garda Technical Bureau to carry out an examination. 

A senior investigating officer has been appointed and will be leading the inquiry from an incident room at Listowel Garda Station.

Gardaí are appealing to the public for information in relation to this incident.

"Any road users who were travelling in the vicinity of Knockanure village between 12am and 1am and may have camera footage (including dash cam) are asked to make this available," a garda spokesperson said. 

"Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Listowel Garda Station on 068 50820, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800, 666 111 or any Garda station."

Gloom over North Kerry

Listowel Municipal District chair councillor Jimmy Moloney offered his condolences to the Kennelly family and said the whole of North Kerry was in shock.

Local councillor Mike Foley said: "The community in Knockanure and here in Ballylongford are in shock this morning and my sympathy goes to the family of the man."

North Kerry priest Fr Anthony O’Sullivan described the death as a tragedy and said it casts a gloom over North Kerry.

“It is very upsetting for everyone — for the man that is dead and his family, for the local people. In things like this, there are no winners," he told the Irish Examiner.