DOUBLE AXE MURDER AT FARM
‘Man slaughters siblings and then takes his own life’
a Farmer slaughtered his two brothers with an axe in a horror double murder before taking his own life, gardai believe.
Detectives think Johnny Hennessy, 59, attacked Willie, 66, and 60-year-old Paddy with the hatchet on the family farm near Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
It’s understood he then fled the scene in a van. His body was found in a river 5km away with sources saying he killed himself.
Neighbour and former Cork East TD Kevin O’keeffe said: “It is beyond belief what happened.”
A LAND dispute is believed to have led a farmer to murder his two brothers with an axe before he killed himself.
Detectives say Johnny Hennessy attacked Paddy, 60, and 66-year-old Willie near Mitchelstown, Co Cork, on Thursday night.
Detectives believe he then fled in a Toyota Corolla van as a massive manhunt got under way, and was found dead in a river 5km away. Sources said he took his own life.
One source claimed: “It’s understood a row broke out over the small farm – it was over a portion concerning about six acres.”
The bodies of Paddy and Willie were found before midnight on Thursday after officers got a call from someone fearing for their safety .
The Garda armed support unit was sent to the farm in Curraghgorm along with local officers. Paddy was found in a yard before Willie was discovered in a barn. They had severe facial and neck wounds.
A huge manhunt was launched and early yesterday morning a national appeal was made to try trace a red Toyota Corolla van.
The public were urged not to approach it or the driver but to ring 999. By that stage 50 gardai including the armed support unit, the dog unit, and air support were involved in the hunt. Around 12pm the helicopter spotted Hennessy’s body in the Funshion River and a few hours later the water unit recovered it.
It was taken to Cork University Hospital where a postmortem will be carried out. The bodies of the other two brothers remained at the farm until late last night where they
were examined by State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster. They were then removed to CUH and their postmortems will take place today.
At the scene Cllr Frank Roche told the Irish Mirror that locals were “devastated”.
He said: “It is frightening to think that we have another one of these double murders, it is a completely quiet area, this time yesterday you would have seen hardly anyone around here.
“People are absolutely devastated. I get phone calls on a daily basis about people having problems with farms, people’s lives and their feelings are being badly hurt”. Fine Gael Cllr Kay Dawson echoed Mr Roche saying she doesn’t “have the language to put the words” to the horror.
She said: “You can’t make anything of it because it just doesn’t make sense.
“Normally when you listen to the news it’s someplace else, but this is our own community devastated by this tragedy.
“I don’t have the language to put the words on the sensation. Unbelievable I think is the best way to describe it. It’s a tight, close-knit community, a hard-working community and we are devastated. They were salt of the earth, just got on with their daily lives. They interacted well. They were genuine, quiet, gentle people. It’s just unbelievable to wake up today to hear that they are no longer with us.
“I am stuck for words and I normally wouldn’t be. It’s a tragedy beyond belief and our understanding.”
Armed gardai initially attended as it was feared a gun could have been involved, although there was no licensed firearm registered at the farm which was owned by Johnny Hennessy.
So far no notes or clues have been found but gardai believe the tensions may be linked to a dispute over a
They were genuine, quiet, gentle people..it’s a tragedy beyond belief
COUNCILLOR KAY DAWSON YESTERDAY
section of the farm owned by one of the brothers.
Johnny and Willie were single and lived on the family farm while Paddy, also known as Pa, was a separated father of two and lived in Mitchelstown.
They were known as the “Saint” Hennessys and had a reputation for being hard-working and respectful.
They were big into sports and never drank, according to one friend who said both Willie and Johnny mainly kept to themselves while Pa was known as the outgoing one. They are survived by one sister while another brother Jer died in 2014. Supt Liam Geraghty urged anyone with information to come forward as they look to confirm a motive.
At Mitchelstown Garda Station he said: “Members of the public may have some information in relation to interactions between the people involved at this time.
“Any information they may have, even if they think it’s not relevant, they should please contact us and we will decide whether it’s relevant to our investigation. We’re not looking for anyone else in relation to this incident.”
He added gardai been speaking to relatives and a liaison officer has been helping them cope.
A Garda spokesman said: “Shortly before midnight on Thursday, gardai in Mitchelstown were alerted to the an incident at a farm house and lands at Curragorm.
“Local uniform and plain clothes officers attended the scene supported by Armed Support Units.
“A male in his 60s was discovered dead in the farmyard.
“Following a further search the body of a second male in his 60s was also found in a shed.
“Gardai commenced a search for a third male, also related, believed to be driving a Red Toyota Corolla car/van, 03 WW 1556. This car was subsequently found by gardai parked at an unconnected farmhouse at Killacluig, Mitchelstown. This car has been removed from the scene for a technical examination.
“Gardai discovered the body of male in a river in a remote location nearby. Investigations are ongoing to recover and identify this body.
“A number of scenes have been preserved for technical examination.
“The bodies of the two males remain at the scene.
“We appeal to anyone with information on the incidents that occurred last night to contact investigating Gardai at Mitchelstown Garda station 025 84833, the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.”