Gardaí investigating Cobh deaths wait to interview couple’s daughters

Gardai investigating a murder- suicide where a father of two fatally injured his wife before taking his

life are hoping to interview the couple’s two daughters to try to piece together the sequence of events that led up to the tragedy.

Detectives hope to speak to Michelle and Sarah Greaney over the coming days when they are deemed well enough by doctors, with a view to establish the sequence of events that led to the deaths of their parents, Michael and Valerie.

The bodies of Mr and Ms Greaney were found at the family home at O’Neill Place in Cobh at about 3.20pm on Sunday by gardaí who were called to the scene after Ms Greaney sent Sarah to a neighbour’s house to contact gardaí.

Officers found Michelle Greaney lying on the roadway near St Colman's Cemetery, opposite the family home. She had suffered a single stab wound to the chest that narrowly missed her heart and she was treated at the scene by paramedics who worked to stabilise her condition.

Emergency surgery

She was then rushed by ambulance to

Cork

University Hospital where she underwent emergency surgery.

Although her condition was initially critical, she improved yesterday and spoke briefly to gardaí.

However, officers will wait until they are given the go- ahead by doctors who also treated Sarah for shock at the hospital. It is expected they will not take formal statements from either until after the women’s parents have been buried.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster yesterday concluded postmortem examinations on Mr and Ms Greaney at Cork University Hospital and their bodies were last night due to be released to relatives.

Gardaí said they were not releasing the results of the postmortem examinations, for operational reasons, but it is understood Ms Greaney suffered a number of stab wounds while Mr Greaney also suffered a stab wound to the chest.

Two knives recovered

Gardaí, who recovered two knives at the house, believe Mr Greaney attacked his wife and his daughter before taking his life.

Supt John Quilter, who is heading the investigation, said gardaí were not looking for anyone else in connection with the tragedy.

Gardaí are, however, seeking to speak to people who may have met Mr Greaney over the past few days but early indications suggest he spent much of Sunday at home before events took a tragic turn at the Greaney home that afternoon.

Michael and Valerie Greaney were well known in Cobh, where they ran a physiotherapy clinic close to St Colman's Cathedral, but it is believed Mr Greaney had invested in property during the boom years and had been in financial difficulties in recent times.

Michelle Greaney, who recently graduated from University College Cork, works as a sales assistant at children's clothing shop, Pumpkin Patch in Mahon Point in Cork city, while Sarah is a pupil at Cobh Community College.

News of the tragedy was greeted with shock in Cobh yesterday with Bishop of Cloyne, Dr William Crean calling for prayers for the Greaney family as he expressed his sympathies to those who were bereaved by Sunday’s events.

Deeply shocked

“I was deeply shocked to hear of the deaths of Michael and Valerie Greaney and the serious injuries suffered by their daughter Michelle. I ask the faithful of the diocese to pray for all of those affected by these sad events, “ said Dr Crean.

“May the light of Christ, whose coming into the world we celebrate at Christmas, help to guide us through this great darkness which has fallen on the community of Cobh, and on the diocese as a whole,” he added.

The Health Service Executive extended “its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased” and said it would liaise with the family and community in relation to this incident and any supports required will be made available to provide assistance.

The executive said it could not comment on an individual case but it would encourage anyone affected by the tragic incident in Cobh to contact Console’s confidential freephone helpline service on 1800-247- 247 or the Samaritans on 116-123.