GARDAÍ IN Galway have confirmed that they are treating the death of Connemara secondary school teacher and publican John Kenny as murder.
Results of a postmortem carried out by State Pathologist Marie Cassidy released last night show that Mr Kenny (56) died as a result of an assault, according to gardaí.
Mr Kenny’s body was discovered on the ground floor of the family’s licensed premises in Oughterard on Sunday evening.
Mr Kenny was a teacher at Presentation College, Athenry. His daughter Gillian is on the staff at the school.
Gardaí would not comment on the details for operational reasons, but wish to interview an estimated 30 to 40 people who were in Kenny’s pub on Saturday night.
It is understood that Mr Kenny’s hands had been tied. There were no obvious signs of a break-in. Supt Noel Kelly of Salthill Garda station, who is leading the inquiry, said “all avenues” were being looked at.
“We are looking for anybody who was in the vicinity or on the premises on Saturday night/Sunday morning to contact us at Oughterard Garda station on 091-557320,” Supt Kelly said.
Mr Kenny’s wife, Kathleen, his daughter, Gillian, his brothers Jim, a garda, and Aidan and extended families joined parish priest Fr Jim Walsh as the teacher’s body was removed by hearse yesterday afternoon to the Galway hospital. The teacher’s red Toyota Avensis with school books and notes on its rear seat remained parked outside the pub. In a statement, Presentation College said it was with “deep regret” it had learned of the “untimely death of our friend and colleague”.
“Our thoughts lie with his family, especially his wife, Kathleen and his daughter, Gillian, who is also a colleague of ours in the school.
“John was a valued member of the teaching staff of Presentation College, Athenry, for the past 19 years. He was held in high esteem by staff, students and parents alike.
“He taught German, history and religion, and was heavily involved in the extra-curricular activities of the school, particularly soccer. The whole school community is deeply shocked and saddened at this time.
“We mourn the loss of a colleague and friend. The school is putting in place preparation to meet the pastoral care needs of the school community. We would ask that the privacy of the family would be respected at this traumatic time.”
Minister of State at the Department of Education Ciarán Cannon, who chairs the school’s parents’ association, said that he wished to express his sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Kenny on behalf of the school parent body.
“A number of parents, and their children, would have been taught by John, and he was much respected and much loved by pupils at the school,” Mr Cannon said.
“He was a very popular man, and we would like to offer our support to his family and his colleagues and friends at this time.”
Oughterard publican Mike Flood of the Mayfly Inn described Mr Kenny as a “lovely man, a good neighbour, a good friend” and “no one could say a bad word about him”.
Speaking to RTÉ radio, Mr Flood said that he used to meet him at the swimming pool and gym in Galway regularly at about 7am, before Mr Kenny travelled on to teach in Athenry.
He was a man who had “no enemies”, he said.
Brian Nolan, a former pupil of Mr Kenny’s when he was a teacher at Mount Sion in Co Waterford,described how he was struck by his great love of his native Co Galway.
“I happened to mention the Oughterard placename in a German essay he corrected and we got talking about his home town and how much he loved it,” Mr Nolan said.
“Aside from the subjects he taught, he was very involved with the soccer team in Mount Sion and also followed Galway United. Mr Kenny was very passionate about his subjects and keen to share his knowledge. Those he taught and worked with in Waterford have been very shocked to hear of his premature death in such tragic circumstances,” he said.