Andrew Carey
THE death of county Limerick carpenter who was confronted by intruders when he arrived back at his home last Thursday has left the rural community shocked and fearful.
62-year John O’Donoghue, it is understood, died of a massive heart attack when he discovered a pair of burglars ransacking his home in Toomaline, Doon, County Limerick during lunchtime this Thursday.
Mr O’Donoghue, who had been away form his home for a few days and in the company of his sister, saw that his side door of his home had been smashed open and as he went to the shed beside his house, he collapsed.
A retired nurse, Mr O’Donoghue’s sister Christina called out to the raiders for help after she realised the condition of her brother was serious but the men, along with a third man believed to have been the getaway driver in a black car, fled the scene leaving the helpless man on the ground.
A garda arrived on scene after the alarm was raised but Mr O’Donoghue died a short time after being given the last rites by local PP Fr Tony Ryan.
The 62-year-old bachelor came home from the shops to realise his house was being ransacked.
A short time later, two men, understood to be cousins and members of the traveller community based in Limerick and Dublin, were arrested but the getaway driver is still at large.
They are suspected of being involved in a number of other burglaries in the Cappamore/ Doon area, earlier on Thursday.
The men are being held for questioning at Henry Street Garda station.
State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy is due to be carry out a post mortem on the body of Mr O’Donoghue at University Hospital Limerick later today.
Local Parish Priest Fr Tony Ryan who administered the last rites to Mr O’Donoghue said the entire community is outraged by what happened.
“He had been working in his own house and was bringing back material to work on and was just coming and he noticed a car parked opposite The thieves came flying out of the house, he got such a shock he got a massive heart attack,” said Fr Ryan.
“He was a thorough gentleman, a most intelligent and inoffensive person and I want to extend my sympathy to all his family. He was self employed and a gifted and outstanding carpenter.
“The community is very upset, and the whole community are outraged at what happened. There have been an number of break ins in the area recently, but Doon is a flourishing community with great people,” added Fr Rya.
Doon is one of the many small rural villages in Ireland that lost its garda station in recent years as part of the nationwide policing cutbacks.
While there are garda stations in nearby Cappamore and Murroe the nearest 24 hour garda station is in Bruff.
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Justice Niall Collins has said the community in Doon is in shock and that the incident will cause enormous anxiety in many rural communities concerned about an increase in burglaries and fears of isolation.
Deputy Collins said: “This is a very shocking and saddening incident that has affected the community in Doon. I want to express my condolences to John O’Donoghue’s family and friends at this difficult time for them.
“The number of burglaries affecting rural communities is a major problem and many communities are living in fear, they feel isolated and vulnerable to criminals. Unfortunately our current laws are not a deterrent and Fianna Fáil wants to see tougher sentences in place in a bid to crack down on the surge in burglaries in both urban and rural areas. The government’s deeply flawed policy of closing rural garda stations, such as in Doon, has been disastrous.
“Fianna Fáil produced the Burglary Bill 2015 earlier this year which would introduce a mandatory three years in jail for criminals convicted of burglary and a minimum of seven years on the third burglary conviction. The simple fact of the matter is that some criminals convicted of burglary are regularly walking free after receiving suspended sentences.
“At the moment far too many criminals who are convicted of burglary are going before the courts and being put right back on the streets with suspended sentences. The issue of people committing crimes while on bail is also a major issue that has to be addressed. The penalties just aren’t tough enough to deter criminals and discourage repeat offences. It is unacceptable that we are allowing these criminals to walk free at a time when many older people living alone have said they are afraid in their own homes.
“Under our proposals, there would be a minimum of three years in jail for anyone convicted of burglary and a minimum of seven years jail time for those convicted of a third burglary offence. Anyone who is convicted of using a vehicle during a burglary will be disqualified from driving for two years.
“The government needs to seriously look at its policing policies. We need to ramp-up garda recruitment, increase the presence and visibility of gardaí in rural communities and strengthen legislation. The spate of burglaries has got significantly worse under this government and we now need a radical and comprehensive response from the Minister for Justice.”
