Cold case squad examines pensioner's horrific murder
JOHN KENNEDY (66) FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM IN 1991
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THE Garda Cold Case team are considering reopening the horrific 1991 New Year murder of Pearse Park pensioner John Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy (66) was found with wounds to his neck in the bedroom of his house at 123 Pearse Park at lunchtime on January 1 1991.
Local gardai have been in contact with the Cold Case team, and a decision on what course of action will be taken is expected shortly.
Det. Supt. Christopher Mangan confirmed that the Kennedy murder was 'one of a number of cases' being considered. A preliminary review is undertaken and if it can be further investigated they will look at that possibility.
The murder of Mr. Kennedy still haunts the close knit community, with nobody ever brought to trial for it.
Intensive investigations followed the discovery of his body in the two-storey red-brick building where he lived alone.
A retired bakery worker, Mr. Kennedy was murdered some time between 8 p.m. on New Year's Eve, when he was seen on North Quay at Benny Flanagan's pub, and around 1 p.m. the following day.
It was confirmed by gardai at the time that he suffered neck wounds, most likely from a pair of scissors.
Led by Supt. Michael Boyle, the garda investigation immediately sought an answer as to how Mr. Kennedy got home that evening, by taxi, a lift or if someone had seen him walking.
Days later, one person came forward to say they had met him on the route from Peter Street/ Magdalene Street to his home.
The post mortem found that he had died from asphyxiation, resulting from the inhalation of blood from a stab wound to the neck.
The murderer stole his bicycle from the house but abandoned it 300 yards away in the pedestrian way linking Pearse Park and Scarlet Crescent .
At the time, gardai issued a clear appeal for anyone who had seen someone riding the bike to come forward.
It was a Viking bike and its tyres were punctured when it was found.
The gardai also found a radio lying on the ground outside Le Mirage Restaurant at Hardman's Gardens at 3 p.m. on New Year's morning and appealed for information on that too.
Some weeks later, gardai asked for two men seen sitting on a wall at Loughran's takeaway at the top of King Street, or anybody who saw them, to come forward.
A garda spokesman said it was ' vital' for them to come forward.
They were spotted sitting on the wall beside the closed takeaway between 12.30 a.m. and 1.30am on New Year's morning.
- HUBERT MURPHY
