AN INQUEST heard yesterday that the events surrounding the deaths of Imelda Riney, her young son, Liam, and Father Joseph Walsh in 1994 could be described as "the greatest tragedy of our time".
The inquest in Ennis concluded that all three were killed by single gunshots to the brain.
Last April, Brendan Patrick O'Donnell was jailed for life after the longest murder trial in the history of the State. It lasted 53 days and heard evidence from 82 witnesses.
At the opening of the inquest, the coroner, Ms Isobel O'Dea, said these were sad and tragic events which shocked the entire country.
The assistant state pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, said she viewed Father Walsh's decomposing body where it lay at Cregg Wood, near Whitegate, Co Clare. It was positively identified to her by Supt O'Boyle of Killaloe, in the mortuary of Ennis General Hospital on May 7th, 1994.
A post mortem found that Father Walsh (37), who was curate of Eyrecourt, died as a result of swelling, contusions and lacerations to the brain by a single gunshot wound to the left temple region of his skull. The body of 29 year old Ms Riney was viewed by Dr Bolster at Cregg Wood and positively identified by the victim's partner, Mr Val Ballance, at Ennis General Hospital on May 8th.
She had been dead for some time and there were signs of decomposition. The post mortem revealed death by contusions, swelling and lacerations to the brain caused by a single gunshot through her left eye, the pathologist said.
Dr Bolster also viewed the body of Imelda Riney's three year old son, Liam, at Cregg Wood and later that day carried out a full post mortem examination at Ennis following positive identification by his father, Mr Val Balance.
Again, death resulted from swellings, contusions and lacerations to the brain caused by a single gunshot to the left temple of the young child, she said.
These findings were signed by the jury foreman, Mr John Lyons, who described the events of 1994 as "the greatest tragedy of our lifetime".
"I wish to express my deepest sympathy and the sympathy of the entire country to the relatives and friends of the three victims," the coroner said.
She praised the generous spirit of the people of east Clare, the gardai and their numerous helpers. "I hope and feel that out of the tragedy will come a greater sense of community," she said.
Supt Sean Corcoran of Killaloe described the three murders as a heinous and shocking crime. "Sympathy won't help to bring back the victims, but may ease the pain," he said.
Members of Father Walsh's family were present in the courthouse, including his brother, Philip, and his sister, Ms Margaret Maher, who left the inquest with Imelda Riney's sister, Teresa, and Mr Ballance.