'May they rest in peace'
“There are no words anyone can say to express how people are feeling. This tragedy is heart-breaking.”
The words of Dr Dan Collins, Head of Student Affairs at CIT where Kanturk murder-suicide victim Diarmuid O’Sullivan was due to be conferred next week with a First Class Honours degree in Accounting.
“We extend our thoughts and sympathy to his mother, Ann. We also keep in our thoughts, and prayers, his brother Mark and his father Tadgh,” said Dr Collins.
He added: “We are mindful at this time of his friends, classmates, and staff of the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, as well as the extended family and neighbours.”
Dr Collins indicated that staff described Diarmuid as a young man with promise, who was a hard worker, respected, and held in high regard by staff and students alike.
In a statement released shortly after the terrible incident which took place on Monday at the family's farm near Castlemagner, parish priest of Kanturk and Lismire Fr Toby Bluitt extended his sympathies to the family.
Father Bluitt wrote: “On behalf of the parish communities of Castlemagner, Kanturk and Lismire and throughout the country, we offer our deepest sympathies to Ann O’Sullivan on the tragic loss of her husband Tadgh and sons Diarmuid and Mark.
“All of us are in deep shock and numbed by this heart-breaking news. We pray the Lord’s consolation for Ann and her family and for God’s mercy for Tadgh, Diarmuid and Mark. May they rest in peace.”
Early on Monday morning gardaí were called to a farm near Kanturk with reports of a gun having been fired inside the house.
The body of Mark O’Sullivan was found with gunshot wounds in an upstairs room of the family farmhouse.
Shortly afterwards, the bodies of his brother Diarmuid and father Tadhg were found in a field some distance from the house.
Post-mortems of two of the deceased men were completed on Tuesday with the third took place yesterday, Wednesday.
Gardaí also confirmed that, contrary to some reports in the media, there had been no garda interaction with the deceased men, or their family, prior to Monday’s tragic events.
An Garda Síochána has commenced a full investigation into the incident. Gardaí are not looking for any other persons in connection with this incident at this time.
An Garda Síochána is appealing to any person who may have any information which may assist in the investigation of the incidents which occurred this morning to contact investigating gardaí at Mallow Garda Station on 022-31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or any garda station.