Two men involved in murder of teacher Kenny, gardai believe

Caroline Crawford

Gardai investigating the murder of teacher John Kenny believe two men were involved in the vicious assault that killed him.

Officers believe that two men had concealed themselves on the Galway premises when Mr Kenny was locking up the pub to return to his lodgings upstairs.

It has also emerged that a sum of money was taken during the attack.

Investigators are also set to examine the mobile phones of punters who were in the bar on the night of the murder.

They are appealing to anyone using an iPhone, camera phone or camcorder in Oughterard over the weekend to come forward with the footage.

Officers believe that locals may have unwittingly filmed the murderer and are seeking all video footage from the town.

However, investigations are being hampered by the lack of CCTV footage from Kenny's bar.

Another aspect being checked out by gardai is why the bar closed an hour early on the night of the murder.

In particular, they want anyone who was in the bar and possibly taking pictures on their camera phone to come forward with the images.

A team of detectives last night carried out a room-by-room examination of the pub where the father of one was murdered.

Appealing for assistance in the case, Supt Noel Kelly also asked people who had concerns about the behaviour of friends or family after the murder to come forward.

eliminate

"I'd appeal for them to contact us and let us check out the information they have. It could all be very innocent but we want to eliminate them from enquiries," he added.

Officers met again last night for a conference to review the progress in the case.

"There is in excess of 30 officers involved and there is also a team from the National Bureau of Investigations who have joined us," said Supt Noel Kelly, who is heading the murder inquiry.

As the murder investigation continues, officers have already interviewed a number of the 40 people who were in Kenny's bar on Saturday night. They are now appealing for the others to come forward.

"Witnesses are still being interviewed and we'd like to make an appeal to any other witnesses that may be out there that were in Kenny's bar on Saturday night or Sunday morning or may have been in the vicinity of the bar to come forward," added Supt Kelly.

Mr Kenny taught German, Maths and Religion at the Presentation College in Athenry.

Minister of State at the Department of Education Ciaran Cannon, who chairs the school's parents' association, said that he wished to express his sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Kenny on behalf of the school parent body.

"A number of parents, and their children, would have been taught by John, and he was much respected and much loved by pupils at the school," Mr Cannon said.

Supt Kelly urged anyone with information that might help them in their enquiries to contact at Oughterard Garda Station on 091-557320.

hnews@herald.ie