Seven years after Dad died, we still have no answers
Family of slain man call for fresh probe into father’s death
A KERRY family is calling on Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to launch a new murder investigation into the slaying of a 58-yearold father of two whose killer remains at large.
Seven years after his gruesome death, the family of James Cahillane from Beaufort, Co. Kerry, want a fresh investigation.
The body of Mr Cahillane, who lived alone, was found in the hallway of the badly burned ruin of his house early on the morning of April 19, 2012.
Initially, gardaí believed Mr Cahillane had died in the house fire, but a post mortem by assistant State pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster found he had been assaulted and died from blunt force trauma.
Gardaí believe Mr Cahillane’s killer set his house alight in a bid to destroy DNA evidence.
The post mortem result, coming approximately 30 hours after Mr Cahillane’s body was discovered, completely changed the course of the investigation. The prime suspect in the brutal killing was identified as a male from the Kerry area with numerous previous convictions. He has served lengthy periods behind bars but is now free.
Detectives arrested and questioned the suspect on two occasions, along with a middle-aged woman. Both were released without charge.
Now, the Garda watchdog GSOC is expected to complete its probe into the failed murder investigation within a fortnight.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) investigation is headed up by Tralee native Maurice Breen. Several high-ranking gardaí have been interviewed as part of the GSOC probe.
The watchdog’s report, which will be given to Commissioner Mr Harris, could also lead to individual gardaí facing sanctions for breaches of Garda discipline.
Despite more than 400 interviews, the same number of statements, house-to-house inquiries, public appeals, a prime suspect and a possible murder weapon found at the scene, nobody has been brought to justice.
Mr Cahillane’s two children, Gary and Lisa, have endured the loss of their father and remain deeply troubled and frustrated that nobody has faced charges over their father’s murder.
Members of the Cahillane family made their final submission to the GSOC inquiry this week and a full report is expected to be handed to Garda chief Mr Harris within weeks.
Son Gary has met with GSOC on a number of occasions as part of its inquiry and has handed over all emails and correspondence between him and investigating gardaí.
GSOC has examined several aspects of how the murder investigation was carried out – including how the scene was preserved immediately after the discovery of Mr Cahillane’s body.
The family also asked GSOC to investigate information given to the gardaí concerning a possible sighting of the prime suspect just hours before their father died.
‘He was a good man, quiet and gentle’
GSOC to complete probe ‘within fortnight’
Now, the Cahillane family has insisted that recently appointed Garda commissioner Mr Harris order a new investigation.
In 2017, five years after Mr Cahillane’s death, gardaí said the father of two may have been killed with a hammer.
At that time, Superintendent Flor Murphy said it was believed the hammer was brought to the house by an intruder.
He said the attacker possibly lay in wait for the dead man as he returned home after a night out in Killorglin.
Mr Cahillane’s daughter Lisa said previously: ‘He was a good man, a good father, quiet, gentle, never confrontational...
‘It’s been incredibly hard. We still don’t have any answers for this crime.’
Ms Cahillane said there would have been nothing of great value in the house, and that her father would have had only the cash in his wallet.