Donegal father and son to be buried together after suspected murder-suicide

Gardaí not seeking anyone else in connection with deaths

The bodies of Damien (50) and Daniel (88) Duffy were discovered at their home at Windy Hall in Letterkenny. Photograph: Declan Doherty
The bodies of Damien (50) and Daniel (88) Duffy were discovered at their home at Windy Hall in Letterkenny. Photograph: Declan Doherty

The father and son who died in a suspected murder-suicide in Donegal on Thursday are to be buried together on Monday.

The bodies of Damien (50) and Daniel (88) Duffy were discovered at their home at Windy Hall in Letterkenny.

Gardaí believe Damien suffocated his father in the house before killing himself. No one else is being sought in connection with the deaths. The results of the two postmortems conducted on the remains have not been released.

Funeral arrangements for the men, who both worked for ESB in the town, were released over the weekend.

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A funeral pass is due to take place on Monday morning before the men are buried together in the family plot in St Mary's Cemetery in nearby Ramelton.

Relatives have asked that donations be given to Donegal Hospice in lieu of flowers.

Mr Duffy snr's wife Christine died some years ago, as did his daughter Caroline Callaghan. He had two other children, both daughters.

Mr Duffy snr was the head of the ESB in Letterkenny before retiring, while his son also worked there for a time.

Both deceased men were described as “extremely intelligent and engaging” by neighbours, one of whom added that the father “idolised” his son.

One neighbour said: “[They] were two of the finest people, hard-working, highly intelligent, creative and very entertaining. This is incomprehensible. I am devastated and will miss them terribly.”

Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher

Conor Gallagher is Crime and Security Correspondent of The Irish Times