‘Absolutely shocking’ - Gardaí in Kerry investigating fatal shooting of elderly man found in his home
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Gardaí in Kerry have launched a probe into the fatal shooting of a man in the Castlemaine area.
The investigation was launched after gardaí discovered the body of a man in his eighties at his home outside the mid-Kerry village on Sunday morning.
A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office said that gardaí in Tralee are now investigating “all of the circumstances” surrounding the discovery of the man’s body.
The Kerryman understands that gardaí are treating the death as a fatal shooting.
Residents in the quiet rural village were shocked last night of the news of the man’s death.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael O’Shea told the Irish Independent: “The area is a beautiful, quiet village, where everyone knows everyone.
“Everyone knows who their neighbour is and everyone respects and watches out for their neighbour and everyone in the village.
“This is just an absolutely shocking and terrible incident and no one knows what has happened.
“You could live a lifetime down here and nothing like this would ever happen, so understandably, we are all completely shocked and taken aback.
“I am not sure who the man was yet but I can just say this is a very sad and tragic incident that no one wants to ever hear of.
“All thoughts go to the man and his family.”
Meanwhile, a local resident said: “It’s a shock to anyone who heard the news.
“People are shocked, people never expect it to happen here, to anyone here.
“But it’s especially shocking that an elderly person has died. That’s the saddest thing of all. Our thoughts are with the man and his family.”
The village lies between Tralee and Killorglin. It is a picturesque corner of Kerry with a strong rural sense of community.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene and removed to the mortuary at University Hospital Kerry, the garda press office said.
The scene is currently being preserved for technical examination, with The Kerryman witnessing several gardaí at the home on Sunday evening.
The garda press office said that the State Pathologist and local coroner have been notified.
“The results of a post-mortem examination will assist Gardaí in determining the course of the investigation,” they added.
The Kerryman has learned that gardaí are now speaking with another male in relation to the incident.
