Mother’s fury as daughter’s killer let out to see family

A MOTHER whose daughter was murdered has condemned a decision to grant her killer temporary release to see his father.

Ann Walsh Snr received a phonecall on Thursday informing her that murderer Raymond Donovan was being granted day release to see his father, who she claims is not ill or dying, at a half-way house in Milltown, Dublin.

Donovan was handed a life sentence in 2006 for strangling Ann Walsh Jnr, 23, in the grounds of St Senan’s Church in Kilrush, Co. Clare on August 24, 2005.

Donovan and Ann Walsh Jnr had an ‘on-off relationship’ for a number of years which ended one year before she was found dead.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Liveline yesterday, the mother said: ‘I’m disgusted in the way that Donovan is being let out, disgusted. My whole life, my family was turned upside down. It [the phonecall] broke my heart, it brought everything rushing back.

‘My heart’s broken. He can talk to his parents, his sister. I can never talk to my daughter.’

Mrs Walsh said that Donovan was ‘getting the easy way out’ and said that he had already been granted a one-day release last year which neither her nor her family had been informed about.

She said: ‘I asked was his father ill or drying or something. And was told no. I got shocked because everything came rushing back. I reckon step-by-step they’re letting him out. This is the second time he’s been let out. We’ve never been notified.

‘It’s only by chance I found out about the parole board. The gardaí or no-one didn’t notify us of anything.

‘Life should mean life. He’s getting the easy way out.’

Also speaking on Liveline was Mrs Walsh’s other daughter, Mary, who said: ‘It’s absolutely shocking.

‘He has a right [to see his family]. Like we don’t get a day, it’s all him. We’re the victims. It’s just shocking that he gets what he gets.’