This article is from page 15 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
THE horrific death endured by Ennis hackney driver Liam Moloney two- and-a-half years ago, was recalled at the inquest into his death last week.
Ennis Coroner’s Court heard details of Mr Moloney’s final journey, on the evening he met his brutal end, on February 11, 2005.
The jury which heard details of the death agreed that he had been the victim of a murder and brought in a verdict in accordance with this.
The inquest heard from Shirley Conway, who worked at the office of Ennis Cabs, on the date in question.
She said the last call she gave Mr Moloney was at 7.14pm, on the evening of his death. That fare was to Clarecastle.
“Liam was in great form. He was due to work through the night, until 4 or 5 in the morning,” said Ms Con- ee
Hugh Hehir was the last fare Mr Moloney brought home that night, prior to him picking up Anthony Keath
Mr Hehir recalled going to the of- fice of Ennis Cabs, to get a taxi.
He said a man in his late 50s emerged from a back office and to- gether they walked to Mr Moloney’s
eb
‘He sounded like a townie. He seemed to know a lot of people around the town,” he said.
Mr Moloney drove Mr Hehir home to Clarecastle, arriving at around 7.30pm.
The following day, Mr Hehir heard that somebody had been killed in Ruan and he only realised who it was when he saw his face on the televi- sion.
John Cullinan, who had rented land at Port, Ruan, at the time, made the grim discovery of Mr Moloney’s body, at around 2.30pm on the after- noon after the murder.
“I saw that it was a human body,’ he said. He phoned his wife and she 1m- mediately contacted the emergency services.
The deceased’s brother Derry Moloney identified the body at Lim- erick Regional Hospital, on February eel tey
The inquest heard that he walked around his brother’s body several times, in shock.
“Tnitially I could not identify the body of my brother Liam, due to the head injuries. I walked around the body again and then identified it as my brother Liam,” the inquest heard.
Detective Sergeant Michael Molo-
ney, who attended the scene of the murder, said the deceased appeared to have had significant injuries to the head and throat.
Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis carried out a post mortem ex- amination on the deceased’s body.
He said Mr Moloney’s skull had been severely fractured. He had sus- tained multiple blows from a chop- ping type weapon, either a machete, meat cleaver or axe.
He had also received multiple lac- erations to the hands and fingers.
Death, he said, was due to blunt force trauma to the head, with cut throat injuries a contributory cause.