Fr Tony Ryan: We were badly let down and live in fear

Gardaí at the scene in Doon where John O’Donoghue collapsed and died after being confronted by intruders at his home

The scene outside Doon in Co. Limerick

Gardaí at the scene in Doon where John O’Donoghue collapsed and died after being confronted by intruders at his home

The scene outside Doon in Co. Limerick

Fr Tony Ryan

August 28 2015 11:17 PM

Our community is in grief. On Thursday afternoon, John O'Donoghue was returning to his home in Doon to finish off a project he was working on.

I knew John well. He was a very quiet person, a lovely man who was extremely gifted in carpentry.

John and his sister Christina were walking back towards their home when John noticed the side door had been smashed open.

Two thieves were inside tearing the house apart. The thieves came running out and John collapsed due to the shock of it all.

His sister Christina was able to raise the alarm with neighbours, who immediately contacted the paramedics. They arrived within minutes and they made every effort to revive John.

I administered the last sacraments and John passed away. The gardaí arrived soon afterwards and neighbours and I tried our best to comfort Christina.

This has had a terrible effect on her and her family.

I want to extend my sympathies to John's sisters, Christina, Mary and Sheila and his brother Seamie and to their spouses, John's nephews and nieces and all their relatives and friends.

We cannot comprehend their sadness. We are with them, and we will help them with our prayers and support. We ask that God comforts them at this time.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. There have been a number of break-ins, burglaries and thefts.

Doon Garda Station was closed in 2012, one of more than 100 stations across the country that was shut.

Whilst there is great support through local contacts and the text message alert scheme, when suspicious people are in the area many elderly people - especially those living alone - are very nervous. Many are possibly living in fear.

We were let down very badly by our politicians when the garda station was closed.

The guard based there lived in the local community. He knew everyone. Whilst gardai were quickly on the scene on Thursday, Bruff Garda Station is 32 kilometres away.

However, the presence of a garda station in Doon was so important to people here.

The presence of the garda in the local station was so important. He gave great support to the local community.

We have also lost our library and our bank in an otherwise vibrant community with 1,500 parishioners.

We have two excellent primary schools and a new secondary school Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa which has 700 pupils. There is great harmony and community spirit and many wonderful community organisations at the heart of Doon. However the loss of the garda station has had a profound effect.

We have tried everything to keep the station open and to have it re-opened. Gardai are well aware of the crimes in Doon since the station closed. But the fact there is no local garda means there is no deterrent. There is a sense of security with the presence of a garda station.

There is a sense of insecurity without one.

The people of Doon have been badly let down by our politicians, badly let down.