This article is from page 4 of the 2006-09-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
IT’S every family’s nightmare. A young man goes out for a few drinks and a laugh, but never makes it home.
Vincent Hehir was enjoying a break with his family last weekend. He escaped the hustle and bustle of his home and business in London and visited his parents and family, at Glencanane, just three miles from Kildysart.
Vincent regularly visited his family and enjoyed catching up with his friends over a few drinks in the village of Kildysart. And last Sunday GARDAÍ investigating the death of Vincent Hehir have taken statements from up to 80 people who were in Kildysart on the evening he suffered his injuries.
They still believe that a number of people who may have useful information have yet to come forward.
As part of the investigation into the incident, gardaí interviewed a number of people on the streets and was no exception. He enjoyed himself that evening and prepared to return to London, after his break with his children.
But fate was to intervene and Vincent never made it back to his parents’ house at Glencanane.
He sustained head injuries in an incident outside Mitchel’s Corner Bar shortly after 11pm, and was brought to Ennis General Hospital. He underwent a CAT-scan at Limerick Regional Hospital on Monday morning and returned to hospital in Ennis.
He remained in a critical condition throughout the week and, sadly, lost his fight for life on Wednesday in the pubs in Kildysart late on Sunday night, exactly one week since the incident, which has shocked the close-knit west Clare community.
Three local men, aged 21, 23 and 33, were arrested in connection with the incident last Tuesday morning. All three were detained at Kilrush Garda Station throughout the day and were all subsequently later released.
Three homes in the area were also searched, as part of the investigaevening.
Although he was in a critical condition during those three days, his family remained by his bedside and hoped against hope that he would make a miraculous recovery.
The people of Kildysart are still in shock at the tragic death, at such a young age. Vincent was only 32.
Many knew him well before he moved to the UK, where he managed a bar. Others did not know him, but are acquainted with members of his large family, who are well known in the area.
Kildysart, like most villages in rural Ireland, is not alien to tragedy tion.
A full file is currently being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will decide later whether charges are to follow.
Initial results from the post mortem examination carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis last Friday showed that Mr Hehir died as a result of head injuries. The Pathologist’s full report will take some weeks to complete.
Superintendent Joe McKeown, of and the pain of Vincent’s death cuts deeper, given recent heartbreak in the community.
Less than three months ago, the Corry family, from Moyfadda, Labasheeda, lost their son Stephen (21), when he was killed after his car crashed into a wall at Main Street, Kildysart, in the early hours of June 12.
Stephen’s parents, Michael and Vera, are trying to slowly come to terms with the death of their son.
Stephen, like Vincent Hehir, had left his home on a Sunday evening, and spent hours socialising with friends, but never made it home. Kilrush Garda Station, said he believed some people still had information and he urged them to come forward.
“We carried out questionnaires in Kildysart, between 10.30pm and midnight on Sunday.
“We interviewed people in pubs and on the streets and stopping cars. We spoke to a number of people who were in the village on the night in question,” said Supt McKeown.
Gardaí believe Vincent arrived in Kildysart village shortly after 8.30pm, and visited a number of pubs, where he met up with friends.
He sustained injuries outside Mitchel’s Corner Bar on Main Street, some time after 11pm and was brought to hospital, where he died on Wednesday evening.
“We are still appealing for anyone out there who witnessed this incident and haven’t come forward. We are trying to track down his (Vincent’s) final hours,” he said.
“People who live in the area, who reside close by or who were walking down the street at the time may have information that could assist,” said the superintendent.
A special Garda conference on the investigation took place at Kilrush Garda Station – where a conference room was set up last week – yesterday evening, as gardaí continues to sieve through information.
“We have more statements to take and we will see what direction we will take then,” said Supt McKeown.