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The mother who lost her two children and her husband in a murder-suicide horror has been “absolutely devastated.”
Fr. John Magner prayed with Ann O’Sullivan after the bodies of Tadgh, Mark, and Diarmuid were found on the family farm in Co Cork. Said, “There are no words.”
A third autopsy will take place today as the Garda investigation continues.
A priest said that the community where two brothers died with their father in a murder-suicide horror has been “paralyzed, stunned and devastated.”
(Image: Provision)
Father John Magner prayed with his wife and mother Ann O’Sullivan after the shootings that left her the only surviving member of the family.
Gardai is still reconstructing the sequence of events that ended in bloodshed at the remote farm in Kanturk, Co Cork.
Today a third autopsy will be carried out in an attempt to unravel the truth.
Two autopsies were performed on Tuesday to try and establish how Tadgh O’Sullivan, 59, and his sons Mark, 26 and 23,
Diarmuid lost his life.
It is understood that Mark died first in an upstairs room on the family farm.
The mechanic Tadgh and his youngest son Diarmuid suffered fatal gunshot wounds in a field 600 meters away.
Gardai legally recovered three shotguns and rifles at the scene.
(Image: Family Brochure / PA Wire)
It is believed that there was a simmering discussion about the land and
inheritance between the three.
However, gardai last night dismissed reports that O’Sullivan’s home had been called earlier in connection with any altercations.
A spokesperson confirmed that two autopsies were completed yesterday and a third scheduled for today.
He said: “A formal identification of the three men will follow thereafter.
“Contrary to some reports in the media, there had been no Garda interaction with the deceased men or their families prior to the tragic events of October 26, 2020.”
At a local mass on Tuesday, prayers were said for the family and Ms. O’Sullivan.
Fr Magner met the 60-year-old man after attending the scene and praying for the three men.
He said the wife and mother were “absolutely devastated” and that he prayed with her for the strength to face her “immense loss.”
He told RTE: “Words cannot put how you felt.”
Fr Magner added that it was also devastating for family and friends.
He said: “Finding out that the friends you have are gone, gone from this world so early in life.
“It is also terrible for families when people die very young. It is very hard on people.
“It is very difficult for young people to understand why all these things happen.” Father Toby Bluitt, pastor of Kanturk and Lismire and Castlemagner Park administrator, recounted how the community was “deeply shocked and stunned.”
He said that, on behalf of the Castlemagner and Kanturk and Lismire communities, “we offer
Our condolences to Ann O’Sullivan on the tragic loss of her husband Tadgh and their sons Diarmuid and Mark.
(Image: Niall Carson / PA Wire)
The parish priest added: “We are all shocked and stunned by this heartbreaking news. We pray the Lord’s comfort for Ann and
his family and by God’s mercy for Tadgh, Diarmuid and Mark. Rest in peace.”
Friends and former classmates of Mark, a lawyer-in-training, and Diarmuid, an accountant-in-training, have also paid tribute to high achievers.
Cork University, where Diarmiud was to receive a first-class degree next week, was “shocked by the loss of a promising young man.”
The Cork Institute of Technology staff and students expressed their
disbelief and sadness.
(Image: Provision)
Dr. Dan Collins, Director of Student Affairs, said: “There are no words anyone can say to express how people feel.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking and we extend our thoughts and condolences to his mother Ann.
“We also keep his brother Mark and his father Tadgh in our thoughts and prayers. At this time we are aware of his friends, classmates, and staff from the Accounting and Information Systems Department, as well as extended family and neighbors. “
Dr. Collins added that the staff who knew Diarmuid during his time at CIT described him as a promising young man who was a hard worker, respected, and highly esteemed by staff and students.
(Image: Niall Carson / PA Wire)
Mark was a practicing attorney and had recently completed a master’s degree in corporate law from UCC.
It is understood that he had previously attended the University of Limerick to
his bachelor’s degree, where he obtained an award from the university president.
A former UCC colleague described him as “a very gentle soul,
a good boy who was always helping ”.
Siddhant Shahane told RTE that he and his classmates were “quite shocked” when they heard the news.
(Image: Provision)
Meanwhile, the PRO assistant at the Castlemagner GAA club, where the brothers played, described the family as “much loved.”
Paul Gallagher said the community will join with Ms. O’Sullivan as best they can in trying to help her through this difficult time.
He told Newstalk 106: “I am absolutely devastated by the news.
“It is not something you think you would receive at your front door, it is an absolutely heartbreaking situation.
(Image: Provision)
“As a community, we are numb and it will take us a long, long time to recover from this. They were a very well known family. Mark and Diarmuid would have played GAA as minors with their school, but they are a well-known family,
very dear family.
“There is no doubt that it is difficult to understand and it is at times like these that you need to strengthen yourself from the organizations you have in the community, and we would be reasonably well blessed in that regard.
“We are going to stand together for Ann O’Sullivan and her extended family. Obviously, our thoughts and prayers are with them right now. “
The bodies were found at the family farm in Assolas, Kanturk, northeast of Co Cork on Monday. All three had suffered gunshot wounds.
Gardai was alerted around 6.30 a.m. after Ms O’Sullivan raised the alarm that firearms may have been fired at her home.
A major Garda operation quickly sprang into action with a steel ring thrown around the property.
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