Romanian gets five years’ jail for withholding information over killing of Oughterard publican

Date Published: 19-Dec-2012

A Romanian man was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday for withholding information during a Garda investigation into the murder of Oughterard publican and teacher, John Kenny, in his pub last year.

Florin Fitzpatrick (38), a Romanian National, whose Romanian surname is Buracuic, had denied withholding information between September 25 and 28 last year, which might have been of assistance in the apprehension of people involved in Mr Kenny’s death, which occurred on September 25 2011 at his pub on Main Street, Oughterard.

A jury took just under three hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict following a three-week trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court in November and the matter was adjourned to yesterday for sentence.

During the trial Fitzpatrick had always maintained John Kenny was his friend and that he was very upset on hearing of his death and wanted to help Gardaí catch those responsible.

Family and friends of the deceased vehemently refuted that and they punched the air and shouted, “yes, yes, yes” when the unanimous guilty verdict was returned in November.

There were more muted scenes yesterday when Judge Gerard Griffin imposed the maximum sentence of five years on the accused.

Mr Kenny’s wife, Kathleen, blessed herself, and she and her daughter Gillian exchanged smiles and hugs. Garda Jim Kenny, a younger brother of the victim, along with friends and family gathered round to offer support and numerous Gardaí of all rank who had been involved in the investigation looked relieved and smiled broadly at each other.

Fitzpatrick, who had sat alone all during the trial and again yesterday, appeared dazed and shocked as the sentence was handed down. The colour drained from his face and stared up at the ceiling before meekly turning and offering his hands to a waiting prison officer who handcuffed him before leading him away to the cells downstairs.

See full court report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.