Niall Molloy

Father Niall Molloy (? - 8 July 1985) was a catholic priest who died in mysterious circumstances in Kilcoursey House in Clara, County Offaly, the home of Richard and Therese Flynn. When the Garda Síochána arrived, they found that there were signs of violence in the Flynn's bedroom and that there was a large bloodstain on the carpet. Richard Flynn said that his wife and Father Molloy had viciously attacked him in an argument over drink and that he had struck Father Molloy in self-defense. Flynn was charged with manslaughter and with actual bodily harm. During Richard Flynn's trial, the defense council said that it was possible that Father Molloy had died from heart failure, this led Judge Frank Roe to direct the jury to return a verdict of not guilty. Subsequent to the trial, a coroner's inquest found that Father Molloy had died as a result of head injuries.^[1]

Niall Molloy was originally from County Roscommon.^[2] He had been friends with Therese Flynn since childhood, and they had shared an interest in horses. In the 1960s, Father Molloy inherited IR£60,000 from his father, which he used to start in business. He had been business partners with Therese Flynn and they had owned horses and land jointly. Father Molloy had a room in Kilcoursey House, the castle owned by the Flynns.^[3][4]

The Director of Public Prosecutions' case files on this death were among other files stolen by "The General", Martin Cahill. The files were later published by Veronica Guerin, revealing a possible conflict of interest by the presiding judge in the trial of Richard Flynn.^[1][2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Mac Donncha, Garry. "Scannal! The Killing of a Priest". RTÉ. http://www.rte.ie/tv/scannal/episode1.html. Retrieved 3 July 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Tallant, Nicola (24 September 2006). "Mystery of priest's violent death". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/mystery-of-priests-violent-death-134899.html. Retrieved 4 July 2010. 
3. ^ Collins, Liam (30 December 2001). "Mystery of priest's violent end casts shadow over time". Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mystery-of-priests-violent-end-casts-shadow-over-time-512334.html. Retrieved 3 July 2010. 
4. ^ "Site Fact Sheet - Kilcoursey House". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. http://www.buildingsofireland.ie/cgi-bin/viewsite.cgi?siteid=35. Retrieved 3 July 2010.