THE RELATIVES of a father of two killed in a violent feud have no wish to see another family suffer a similar tragedy, his requiem Mass in Cork heard yesterday.
Gerard Delaney (51) from Mahon in Cork was killed following a row outside a pub in Ballyphehane on the southside of the city in the early hours of December 27th. He incurred stab injuries and died at Cork University Hospital.
Gardaí believe the death is related to an ongoing feud between two rival factions on the southside of Cork city.
Yesterday at the Church of the Assumption in Ballyphehane celebrant Fr Paul O’Donoghue said Mr Delaney’s family and friends were united in their sense of shock at the tragic passing of a beloved husband, brother and grandfather.
“The tragic death of Gerard has caused darkness to descend on all of you. One of the hard facts of life is that death doesn’t wait for old age. Life can be taken away from each of us so easily. Gerard’s family don’t want to see anyone else suffer like they have as a family. The sudden death of Gerard has saddened all of us.”
Mr Delaney’s daughter Karen remembered a loving father who “could never do things by half”.
“We all knew my dad as a hard worker and a good friend but to us he was a dad and grandad. When we were small he had to give us the latest computers.
“If we asked for a bird we got an aviary. When Luke and Dylan came along [Mr Delaney’s grandchildren] he thought he was the only man to ever be a grandad.” He is survived by his wife Mary and their grown up children Karen and Gerard. He was laid to rest in St Michael’s cemetery, Blackrock.
It is understood Mr Delaney was at home babysitting his grandchildren until late on December 26th when he decided to go to the Manhattan bar in Ballyphehane.
A row broke out which involved the use of baseball bats, pickaxe handles and other weapons.
Two people were arrested in relation to the incident but were released without charge.
A postmortem on Mr Delaney confirmed he died from blunt force trauma and stab wounds.
Supt Charlie Barry has appealed for witnesses to contact Togher Garda station on 021-4947120.