POLICE IN Boston believe an Aran Islander who was shot dead early this week may have been an accidental victim of a failed robbery attempt.
Ciarán Ó Conghaile (36) from Inis Meáin was shot in the chest early on Monday morning in the Dorchester suburb of Boston as he was walking home from an Irish heritage festival.
His brother Micheál Ó Conghaile lost his life 11 years ago next month. He was washed into the sea while waiting on his Honda 50 on the old Inis Meáin pier to take a rope from the ferry in heavy seas. The ferry was unable to dock, and it was over a year before Mr Ó Conghaile’s remains were found and a funeral was held.
Ciarán Ó Conghaile, a single man, had been working as one of the “undocumented Irish” in the construction industry for the past 12 years.
He was very close to his home on Nahant Avenue, near Adams Corner in Dorchester, when he was shot at about 1am on Monday. Emergency services who were called pronounced him dead at the scene.
Boston police are reported to be investigating whether he had his wallet stolen. US official sources quoted by the Press Association said “it looks like it was a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
Inis Meáin Knitting Company director Tarlach de Blacam said Mr Ó Conghaile had worked for him from 1994 to 1998 in his knitwear factory, and described him as a “lovely young fellow”.
“He was very bright, and he trained to work on the automatic machines, but he wanted to travel,” Mr de Blacam said.
Fr Joe Jennings of Séipéal Mhuire of Inis Oírr and who ministers on Inis Meáin said he knew the family very well and he was stunned.
“That a lovely family like this could be hit in such a double tragic way takes time to absorb,” Fr Jennings said.
“Islanders are very resilient and Ciarán’s parents have great faith, but this is very hard to contemplate.”
Mr Ó Conghaile is survived by his father Micheál and mother Anna, and three siblings. One sister Mary Ann teaches on Inis Oírr and brother Pól Dara lives with his parents.
His other sister Deirdre and her husband live in the US and have been in contact with Boston police in an effort to get more information.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance for relatives.