Father Niall Molloy (1933 – 1985) was a catholic priest who was killed in mysterious circumstances in Kilcoursey House in Clara, Co.Offaly , Ireland. the home of Richard and Therese Flynn. When the Gardai ( Irish Police )  arrived, they found that there were signs of violence in the Flynn’s bedroom and that there was a large bloodstain on the carpet. Flynn was  charged with manslaughter and with actual bodily harm. Niall died a day after the wedding of the Flynns’ daughter Maureen to Ralph Parkes.

During Richard Flynn’s trial, the defense council submitted that it was possible that Father Molloy had died from heart failure, this led Judge Frank Roe—a “great friend” of the families involved—to direct the jury less than four hours after the hearing began to return a verdict of not guilty . A month after the trial, a coroner’s inquest found that Father Molloy had died from a “sub-dural haemorrhage consistent with having sustained a serious injury to the head”.

1933

Niall was born in Roscommon, Niall was the youngest of a family of nine ( six sisters and two brothers). His father William J. Molloy was a well known farmer and businessman in Roscommon Town and the family lived just outside the town in a large house known as “Carrowroe Park”. William J.Molloy served as a Senator from 1922 – 1931 after his return to Ireland from New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Molloy_(Irish_politician)

 

Niall’s parents

1943 Picture shows Niall with his father outside the family home “Carrowroe Park”

Growing up Niall was interested in sports, and as well as his sister Eileen, spent a lot of time with horses which were kept in stables on the family estate

His first major prize, at the age of 14, for show  jumping won at Claremorris Show

 

 

 

 

Educated at Summerhill College, Sligo he went on to the Irish College in Rome to study for the priesthood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1957 Niall was ordained a priest in Rome

After his ordination Niall returned home and served in a number of parishes before he was made an Army Chaplin stationed in Athlone. He served for a time with the Army overseas in Cyprus.

1984

                                                                  Niall at Westmeath Hunt shortly before his death

At the insistence of his Parishioners Niall was buried beside his Church in Fuerty, Castlecoote, Co. Roscommon. His superior Fr. Jones wanted the grave to be be ,out of sight, behind the Church.