Five years on James’ daughter Lisa reveals her family’s continuing trauma
THE unimaginable trauma James Cahillane’s family has endured over the last five years was clearly etched on the face of his daughter Lisa at this week’s press briefing in Killarney Garda Station.
Speaking on the fifth anniversary of the brutal murder of her father, Ms Cahillane spoke movingly of the ‘quiet and gentle’ man she loved as a father, and of her family’s bitter grief and lack of closure as the case remains unsolved five years on.
A resilient Ms Cahillane choked back tears on occasions as she and Gardaí issued an urgent appeal for anyone with information to come forward to assist the investigation and help the family achieve some closure.
“This has been a huge trauma to us all. It has shadowed our grief and it’s been incredibly hard. We feel absolutely no sense of closure; it’s been on our minds every day for the last five years. We can’t quite believe five years have gone by, and yet we still have no answers,” she said.
“Someone out there must know something. I’m appealing because, as was said by Gardaí, in the five years that have passed, loyalties might have changed, friendships might have changed. Even if you think the information you have is miniscule, it might lead to something; please come forward.”
Ms Cahillane tenderly told of a quiet, gentle man: “For something like this to happen to someone who never bothered any one is not right; it’s unbelievable. He was a good man, and a good father,” she said.
Ms Cahillane made it clear that until someone is brought to justice, her family’s torment will go on: “What we want is justice, and until we get justice we will never be fully satisfied – but I know Gardaí are doing everything they can do,” she said.
“You worry that it can happen again because nobody has answered for this, you worry it could happen to somebody else. Nobody’s been held to account.” The body of the 58-year-old father of two was found on April 19 2012 after his neighbours alerted fire services to a blaze at his house in Ardraw, Beaufort. Following a post mortem examination, a murder investigation commenced after it was determined Mr Cahillane had been violently assaulted prior to the blaze.
The renewed appeal featured on RTÉ’s ‘Crime Call’ this week, and members of the Cahillane family, as well as associates and friends of Mr Cahillane’s joined investigators – including Inspector John Brennan – to outline the case. A Crimestoppers poster was also launched this week to coincide with the renewed appeal.
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Killarney Garda Station on 064 6671160 or the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666 111.