Criminal confesses to the murder of bachelor who is missing for six years
A VIOLENT criminal is claiming to have killed a man who vanished without trace almost six years ago, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.
The man – who is currently in custody in a psychiatric unit – has confessed to allegedly killing Pat Heeran, who is missing from Mohill, Co. Leitrim for the past six years.
The breakthrough comes almost a year after the case was upgraded from a missing person’s investigation to murder.
The MoS understands two other men are suspected of being involved in Mr Heeran’s murder, including a known criminal and an INLA member. One of these men is part of gang that specialises in robbing churches around the country. Mr Heeran vanished in October 2011. He was a 48year-old bachelor who lived alone in a bungalow at Cois Easa in Aughavas, Co. Leitrim. He was very close to his mother and would regularly visit her nearby.
On the afternoon of October 3, 2011, he visited Baxter’s supermarket in Mohill. He returned home, drank half a can of cider and spoke to someone on the phone.
Gardaí initially believed Mr Heeran left his home again with the intention of returning reasonably quickly.
He left his television on, his half-finished can on a table beside his cigarettes and locked the door.
Last month, gardaí announced the missing person’s investigation was upgraded to murder last October. After the media briefing the fields around Mr Heeran’s home were searched by gardaí and around 30 members of the defence forces. The search area was later expanded, but no trace of the missing man has yet been found.
At the time of his disappearance, Mr Heeran was suspected of being a victim of a violent gang based in the midlands, who had previously assaulted him over an unpaid drug debt.
Anyone with information should contact Manorhamilton Garda Station on 071-9820626 or The Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.