THE FUNERAL of Connemara schoolteacher John Kenny, who was found dead in his licensed premises in Oughterard, Co Galway, last weekend, is due to take place today.
A large number of neighbours, along with work colleagues, sympathised with his family at his removal last night in Oughterard village, as the Garda investigation into his death continued.
A man was still being held in Galway city’s Mill Street station last night following his arrest under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on Wednesday in connection with the murder inquiry.
The man, who has been resident in Galway for some time, has been questioned over possible withholding of evidence. He can be held initially for 48 hours, and an application can be made through a District Court to extend this.
It is understood that gardaí wish to speak to several people. Almost all of the 30 to 40 people who were in Mr Kenny’s family pub last Saturday night have already been spoken to, following an appeal by Supt Noel Kelly of Salthill for assistance.
A postmortem examination of Mr Kenny’s body by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy showed his death was the result of an assault.
The 56-year-old’s body was found on Sunday afternoon, lying on the floor of a room in the pub with his hands tied. It is believed he died some time late on Saturday night or in the early hours of Sunday morning.
His violent death has stunned the Oughterard community, while Presentation College Athenry, where he taught German, history and religion, closed early yesterday as a mark of respect.
Mr Kenny’s daughter Gillian teaches in the Athenry school where her father was a member of staff for the past 19 years. The school expressed its sympathies earlier this week, describing Mr Kenny as a valued and popular member of the teaching staff, who had engaged in extra-curricular school activities including soccer.
There were no CCTV cameras in the pub on Main Street, but gardaí have appealed to anyone who might have been using a camera or camcorder in the village last weekend, or who noticed anything unusual, to contact them.
Mr Kenny’s father was a garda, and one of his brothers is a member of the force. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, daughter Gillian, brothers Jim and Aidan, and sisters Mary Kenny-Kelly and Mary Moynihan.
His funeral Mass in Oughterard at noon today will be followed by burial in Kilcummin cemetery.
