Ireland Ireland - Shaun Duffy, 36, Donegal, 29 January 2005

[HayLouise]

30 January 2019:

Gardaí issue fresh appeal over 2005 murder of Donegal man Shaun Duffy

GARDAÍ have issued a fresh appeal for information on the fourteenth anniversary of the murder of a man in Co Donegal.

Shaun Duffy (36), an undertaker, was murdered in his home in Meenacross, Dungloe, on January 29, 2005.

He returned home at about 2.30am after a night out, and was attacked with a knife and a crossbow and left to bleed to death.

Gardaí believe several people have yet to come forward "who may now be in a position to assist in bringing those responsible to justice", a spokesman said.

"It is never too late to do the right thing and assist in bringing Shaun's killer or killers to justice," he added.

An Garda Síochána urged anyone with information to contact Milford Garda Station on 074 91 53114 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.

https://www.irishnews.com/news/repu...05-murder-of-donegal-man-shaun-duffy-1539049/

 

[HayLouise]

29 January 2019:

Gardaí renew appeal over murder of Co Donegal man 14 years ago

Anyone with information is asked to contact Milford Garda station on 074 91 53114 or the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.–PA


Gardaí renew appeal over murder of Co Donegal man 14 years ago

 

[HayLouise]

16 February 2019:

In January 2005, the peace of the quiet townland of Meenacross, near Dungloe in Co Donegal - a popular destination for holidaymakers from Northern Ireland - was shattered by the brutal murder of Shaun Duffy (36). Now cold-case detectives hope that advances in DNA technology could bring his killers to justice. Kathy Donaghy reports

In the early hours of January 29, 2005, Shaun Duffy was murdered in a brutal attack that sent shockwaves through the locality. The aftershocks on the close-knit community he came from can still be felt to this day.

The 36-year-old was set upon when he returned home after a night out. An inquest into his death in 2010 found that he had been stabbed several times, suffered numerous blows to the head and a crossbow arrow had gone through his right arm. His brother, Kevin, who had been socialising with him the night before, knew something was wrong when he called to Shaun's home the next day.

"The inside door on the porch, which my brother always used, wasn't locked. I knew straight away something was wrong because he always locked it," he told the inquest into his brother's death. "I found Shaun inside, lying face down on the sofa and there was a lot of blood. I noticed a large gash on his head and an arrow in his arm. He was cold and I felt for a pulse, but couldn't get one. I knew straight away he was dead."

CSI: Donegal - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

More from - CSI: Donegal - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk :

Shaun Duffy was well-known in the town. Standing 6ft 4in, he was a big, burly bear of a man. He took care in his appearance and wore tweed caps and jackets with smart shirts and ties. He worked at various jobs: as an undertaker and as a bouncer in the town. He had previously worked as a doorman and as a driver at the Mary from Dungloe festival in the summer. Described as "larger-than-life", he was a jack-of-all-trades and had many interests.

Within hours of finding him dead, house-to-house inquiries began in the Meenacross and Maghery areas and a team of 40 police officers were assembled in the hunt to find his killer.

Inquiries centred around the area of the murder and detectives were also trying to trace people who were in the Strand Bar in Maghery on the night prior to the murder, where Shaun Duffy had socialised before heading home.

The murder investigation resulted in over 1,430 lines of inquiry being followed and almost 700 witnesses being interviewed. One line being followed by detectives at the time was whether Shaun Duffy's associates, through his interests in horses, or his work as a bouncer, bore a grudge against him.

 

[HayLouise]

To this day, locals don't like talking about events of that fateful day. His large family - five sisters and two brothers - have rarely spoken of it publicly. The fact that the case has never been solved is something that townspeople regret and many would rather not talk about the gruesome nature of the crime.

One local, who didn't want to be named, said the details of the investigation were horrific. He said that very quickly it became apparent to everyone that no one person could have been responsible for the killing.

"He was a big tank of a man - he was no waif and he did a bit of bouncing. People must have been waiting for him when he came home that night. There had to have been a struggle. It would be remarkable if it was just one person."

His mother, Kathleen, told the inquest into his death that he had many enemies and lived in fear of what might happen to him.

As part of the investigation into his murder, detectives were looking at all aspects of his life - from his bouncing to his dabbling in buying and selling cars - to see if they could uncover what, if any, motives there could be to kill him.

CSI: Donegal - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

Another man, who knew Shaun Duffy all his life, described him as a good man, who was kind to his neighbours, particularly the elderly in his community. He describes a man who was always looking for progress in his own area and was never out for himself.

He says the anniversary of his death brings back the memories of that awful time and how for the sake of the family, he hopes that there will be answers about what happened. Other reports suggested he had a short fuse. He was due to appear in court to face an assault charge.

To coincide with the anniversary of the murder this year, detectives renewed their appeal for witnesses to come forward. Detective Inspector Pat O'Donnell, who is overseeing the fresh appeal, says anybody who has information about the killing, but who didn't pass it on at the time should come forward. He says it's never too late for a person to confidentially pass on what they know.

Det Insp O'Donnell says, while people sometimes feel that the passage of time is a barrier to them coming forward, this shouldn't be the case.

Investigators are also hoping that advances in DNA technology and testing may hold the key to solving the 14-year mystery of who killed Shaun Duffy.

According to Det Insp O'Donnell, the DNA aspect of the case is currently being reviewed and detectives believe this will dictate the course of the investigation. He says detectives are keeping an open mind as to whether locals were involved, or whether the perpetrators were from outside the community.

CSI: Donegal - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

According to Dr Dorothy Ramsbottom, DNA development and cold case manager at Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), more sensitive technology means DNA testing on "cold", or historic, cases can yield results.

This is because profiles can be generated from samples that may have been unsuitable in the past. Using the current technology to revisit these samples means there is a possibility of getting a result.

Dr Ramsbottom describes the process of analysing DNA samples from cold cases as "meticulous and laborious", but she says the very reason for doing it is to yield new information.

"We wouldn't be doing cold cases if there wasn't a hope of getting something. We always hope we'll identify something or progress the investigation a bit further."

In Meenacross, the house where Shaun Duffy once lived has just gone "sale agreed". The shockwaves that once reverberated around this rural community have subsided, but the search for answers goes on.

Speaking at Shaun Duffy's funeral, the chief celebrant, Fr John Joe Duffy, a first cousin of the deceased, appealed for those who carried out the brutal murder to give themselves up.

He spoke of the terrible tragedy that has visited the Duffy family and the local community. And he spoke of a cloud which "lies over this beautiful and peaceful area of west Donegal".

Three months ago, Shaun Duffy's father, Liam, passed away having never seen those responsible for his son's death brought to justice.

Many hope that the cloud over what happened may yet lift.

CSI: Donegal - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

 

[HayLouise]

25 July 2016:

Detectives find new leads in brutal 'knife and crossbow' murder of Shaun Duffy (36)

Since the appeal was issued new witnesses have come forward with information, which has generated several new lines of enquiry.

Detectives find new leads in brutal 'knife and crossbow' murder of Shaun Duffy (36) - Independent.ie

 

[HayLouise]

6 February 2005:

Paradise lost as Dungloe reels from grisly murder


The 36-year-old was found lying face down in a pool of blood. And with his killers still at large, fear has eaten up the area with locals talking of nothing but the killing.

Elderly people living on their own have been particularly unsettled by what has happened, checking locks and being too afraid to answer the door to callers.

A cast of characters has been mentioned as possible suspects and everyone in the once tranquil village is looking over their shoulders, wondering who could have carried out such a shockingly violent crime.

Paradise lost as Dungloe reels from grisly murder - Independent.ie

 

[HayLouise]

27 January 2017:

Priests say prayers and issue appeal for murder victim Shaun Duffy

Prayers will be said for tragically murdered Shaun Duffy on the 12thanniversary of his brutal killing.

No-one has ever been charged with the killing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Milford Garda Station at 074 91 53060 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Priests say prayers and issue appeal for murder victim Shaun Duffy | Donegal Now

 

[HayLouise]

The Gaeltacht village of Dungloe in Donegal is most famous for its summer music festival and accompanying pageant to crown a ‘Mary from Dungloe’. However that quaint life jars with the brutal murder of undertaker Shaun Duffy on January 29, 2005.

Although generally affable, Duffy’s own mother admitted he had many enemies. However irrespective of who he had crossed, the punishment meted out to the 36-year-old was excessive.

After returning home from his mother’s house 300 yards away in the early hours of the morning, it is believed Duffy was set upon by two men who had lain in wait for him. He was attacked with an axe, knife and a crossbow and received blows to the head with a blunt object. He was found the following morning by his brother, lying in a pool of blood with a crossbow bolt still embedded in his arm.

After launching an appeal for information in early 2016, detectives interviewed a number of people later that year, but no one has ever been charged with the murder.

Ten haunting and shocking unsolved murders from Ireland | The Irish Post

 

[dotr]

So many weapons were used to kill this poor man, an ax, a crossbow, knife and whatever blunt object was used to hit his head!
Why did it take so many varied weapons to take this man down? Wondering if the perps were fairly young or female?
speculation, imo.

 

[coffeeandacig]

So many weapons were used to kill this poor man, an ax, a crossbow, knife and whatever blunt object was used to hit his head!
Why did it take so many varied weapons to take this man down? Wondering if the perps were fairly young or female?
speculation, imo.

IMHO, the multiple weapons were to send a message.
Since he was involved in the horses, I wouldn't be surprised if his attack was the result of his involvement with the dark underbelly of horses, money laundering, drugs and the rest...