Investigation launched into death of Oughterard man

Date Published: {J}

BY FRANK FARRAGHER

GARDAI investigating the suspicious death of an Oughterard publican on his premises over the weekend, are this morning poring over the result of last evening’s post mortem examination.

State Pathologist, Dr. Marie Cassidy, carried out the post mortem examination last evening at UHG on the body of 56-year-old John Kenny, Main Street, Oughterard, following his death, in the early hours of Saturday morning last.

The late Mr. Kenny – a secondary schoolteacher at Presentation College, Athenry – had been working in the family pub at Oughterard on Saturday night but hadn’t been seen since closing time on

Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Family members raised the alarm when no contact had been made with Mr. Kenny on Sunday evening and the alarm was raised at around 6pm when his body was discovered in the bar area of the pub.

Gardai from Salthill and the Oughterard area arrived at the pub shortly after, and following an initial examination of the scene, they treated the death as suspicious – the area was then cordoned off.

Dr. Marie Cassidy carried out a preliminary examination of the scene early on Monday before Mr. Kenny’s body was removed to UHG shortly after lunchtime yesterday.

Through the course of Saturday evening and night, an estimated 30 to 40 people visited Kenny’s Pub and by this morning (Tuesday), Gardai had made contact with many of those who had a drink there.

Gardai have appealed for anyone who was in the pub, from Saturday evening until closing time later that night, and who hasn’t yet made contact with them, to do so immediately.

Supt. Tony O’Donnell, who is heading the investigation – now likely to be a murder probe – into the death of Mr. Kenny, has appealed for anyone who was in the vicinity of Kennys between Saturday evening and the early hours of Sunday morning, to get in contact with Gardai at 091-557320.

“We already have received very good co-operation from the public in this investigation and have spoken to a number of people who were on the premises that night.

“Regardless of how trivial any piece of information might seem, we would urge the public to come forward and tell us anything that might be of assistance to us in the investigation of this death,” said Supt. O’Donnell.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentiinel.