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Family complain over Garda probe into priest's death

Fr Niall Molloy
Fr Niall Molloy Fr Niall Molloy

The family of an Irish priest found battered to death in 1985 is to formally complain to the Garda watchdog over the failure to bring his killer to justice.

Roscommon cleric, Fr Niall Molloy (52), was found dead a bedroom in Kilcoursey House in Clara, Co Offaly in July 1985 after his friends, Richard and Therese Flynn, had hosted the society wedding of their daughter, Maureen.

Mr Flynn was later acquitted of manslaughter on the direction of the trial judge, who was known to the Flynn family.

Fr Molloy’s family and the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) have called for an independent inquiry into the original Garda investigation.

However, the Republic’s Director of Public Prosecutions, the Garda Serious Crime Review Team and senior counsel Dominic McGinn have all made separate findings that no further action is necessary.

In a 2014 report, Mr McGinn expressed concern about "shortcomings" in the 1985 investigation as well as the "lack of credible explanation" of the night’s events and the outcome of the criminal trial.

The victim’s family yesterday confirmed plans to make a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) over the initial Garda probe which they described as "shambolic."

Fr Molloy’s nephew, Bill Maher, said the family would take a ‘neglect of duty’ case against gardaí, adding: "We have no doubt that gardaí did not investigate Fr Niall’s death properly. The shortcomings identified are so basic that we’re left wondering was it pure incompetence on the part of Gardai or has there been a cover-up."