Dad shot dead in land row
Man is arrested after dad of one is killed by shotgun blast
A MAN frantically rang a friend for help as he bled to death from a shotgun blast.
Derry Coakley, 58, was attacked as he sat in his tractor.
The father of one then tried to make his way to a farmhouse for help and it was there he bled to death.
The horrific attack happened on Tuesday night in an isolated country road near Macroom, Co Cork.
A source said: “Gardai are working on the theory that there was a dispute about the dumping of top soil on the land of a farmer.
FARM
“It is understood Derry was carrying out work on the land and had apparently been placing topsoil on land nearby.
“It was then a dispute broke out between another man and the victim. The row descended in to violence and Derry was shot and fatally wounded.”
Gardai from Macroom have arrested a local man who is understood to be in his 60s.
He is being questioned by detectives in Bandon Garda station and can be held for a maximum of seven days.
It’s the second violent death in the area in the last few weeks. Councillor Michael Creed paid tribute to Mr Coakley and said locals are in shock. He said: “I knew Derry well. He was a very nice, harmless individual.
“No one knows what went wrong – it is horrific.
“It is a complete and utter tragedy for the area – so close after the last killing in the town.
“People are horrified and shocked by it. I would like to send his condolences to his family and friends.
“He did a lot of work as a sub contractor for the council. He would hire the digger and himself into the council in the Macroom area.
“He used to help with gritting and salting the roads. He was very well known in the town.
“He would be out in the early hours working.
“People really don’t know what to think about what happened here.” A spokeswoman from Cork County Council added: “Mr Coakley was known to many of our staff in Macroom as a contractor.
“We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends at this time.”
No one knows what went wrong. People are shocked and horrified
CLLR MICHAEL CREED CO CORK YESTERDAY
A Garda spokesman said forensic examination of the scene was continuing as they also questioned the arrested man.
The spokesman added: “At approximately 11.40pm gardai were called to the scene of an incident at Raleigh North near Macroom.
“A man in his 50s was being treated at the scene for an apparent gunshot wound.
“He was pronounced dead a short time later. Officers have arrested a man in his 60s.
“He is currently detained at Bandon Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.”
Mr Coakley’s death is the second killing in the Macroom in as many weeks after local man Tim Foley was stabbed to death.
A woman has been charged in connection with his death.