Murder may be linked to Traveller feud

Senior gardaí in Co Kerry held meetings with representatives of the Traveller community yesterday, asking them to maintain calm…

Senior gardaí in Co Kerry held meetings with representatives of the Traveller community yesterday, asking them to maintain calm among younger members following the murder of Michael Faulkner close to his home in Tralee on Monday night.

There is growing concern Mr Faulkner's murder may be related to a series of violent incidents which have occurred among different sections of the Traveller community in a number of towns in the county over the past 12 months.

Some 30 gardaí are now involved in the murder investigation. A series of technical and forensic examinations also took place yesterday as the number of preserved scenes was extended.

Gardaí oversaw the removal of Mr Faulkner's remains from Kerry General Hospital in Tralee to St Mary's on the Hill Church at Knocknaheeny, Cork, where his funeral will take place today.

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Mr Faulkner, a father of six, who also has an address at Knocknaheeny, was found yards from his home at Mitchell's Crescent. It is understood members of his family tried to assist the bleeding and dying man. He died shortly after midnight in hospital.

Gardaí believe a number of weapons were used, including slash hooks, in an apparently planned attack.

The results of the post mortem have not been released by the gardaí "for technical reasons".

Two vehicles were seized and gardaí are also seeking to trace the movement of a blue Toyota Avensis car and a wine-coloured Ford Transit van which sped in convoy from the scene towards the Dan Spring Road and Ballymullen after 11.40 p.m., when the attack took place.

As well as the murder scene, two further areas, understood to be dwellings, were yesterday sealed off and preserved for examination.

Three men, all in their twenties, were arrested on Tuesday but released after their initial periods of detention were extended. Files are being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There have been at least six violent attacks among the Traveller community in Co Kerry over the past 12 months, concentrated in the towns of Killarney and Tralee.