There are people still alive who can unlock the mystery of the brutal killing of a Roscommon priest almost four decades ago, his nephew has claimed.
Today marks the 38th anniversary of Fr Niall Molloy’s violent death.
He was badly beaten and died in Clara, Co Offaly, on July 8, 1985, in the home of businessman, Richard Flynn, and his wife, Therese - less than two days after attending their daughter Maureen’s lavish wedding.
Read More: RTE star 'left shaking' after foul-mouthed homophobic incident in Dublin
The married couple have since died and the case remains unsolved. Richard was charged with Fr Molloy’s manslaughter, but was found not guilty by direction of the trial judge.
The priest’s nephew, Bill Maher, says there are several other people still alive who can solve the case.
Mr Maher is pleading with them to finally come forward.
“It’s a stain on all of them and their children are going to live with it, just like my family,” he said. “Just come clean and forget about it all.”
Mr Maher is also calling for the government to take action.
“I’d like them to get the finger out and open a commission of investigation before I pop my clogs,” he said.
The current government has ruled out ordering this inquiry, on the basis that there is little prospect of it establishing what happened.
But Mr Maher rejected that, adding: “I don’t know what’s holding them back. Just clear it all up.”
Fr Molloy was buried in Fuerty, Co Roscommon, where he was a much-loved priest at the time of his death. A Mass will take place there tomorrow at 11.30am to remember him, where his surviving family and friends will pay their respects.
“The parishioners really held him in very high esteem and still do,” said Mr Maher.
“I go down every year for the Mass and one or two of them always come up to me and say: ‘You’ve done a great job - keep fighting, keep fighting.’
“That spurs me on. It’s nice to know I’ve the support of them as well as the family.”
Paying tribute to his uncle, he said: “He wouldn’t have been very outgoing.
“He was a soft, gentle sort of person and had time for everybody. He popped into people for a cup of tea.
“He wouldn’t get rattled over anything.”
