A former Limerick alderman, Mr Michael Kelly, was fighting for his life in hospital last night after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head at his mother's home. Karl Hanlon reports.
The controversial ex-politician was said to be critical in Cork University Hospital, where he was transferred following emergency surgery in Limerick.
He had been staying at the home of his elderly mother, Rita, in Lilac Court, Southill, where he was found in a bedroom shortly after 8.30 a.m. yesterday with a single gunshot wound to the right side of his head.
Gardaí at Roxboro Road were quickly alerted, but it is understood they initially had difficultygetting into the house and had to get a warrant.
Gardaí said they were keeping an open mind on the incident. The Garda Press Office said the force had not launched an attempted murder inquiry but was investigating "a shooting incident.
"We are still trying to establish how he sustained such serious injuries," a garda spokesman said.
Chief Supt Gerry Kelly said: "We're very much in the early stages of this investigation so we have to keep a very open mind on it. Certainly, we will look at all aspects of this, and that's the way the investigation is being focused at the moment."
Mr Kelly (48) had recently been released from prison having completed a six-month sentence for fraud.
Gardaí confirmed that there was no sign of forced entry to the house and that no gun was found at the scene. It is understood that Mrs Rita Kelly (73) was the only other person in the house when Mr Kelly was found.
It emerged yesterday that tensions have been running high between the Kelly family and a criminal gang in Southill in recent weeks, with serious incidents reported. Mr Kelly's younger brother, Anthony, said yesterday he believed a third party had entered his mother's house and shot his older brother.
"My mother and Michael were in the house and she had left the front door open to let out smoke. Mike smokes, but she hates smoke in the house so she left the door open and someone ran in. That's what I believe happened," he said.
Cllr John Gilligan yesterday criticised the way Mr Kelly was subject to criminal proceedings. "Since the time Michael Kelly joined the city council, I have never known him to be involved in criminality," he said. "He worked hard while he was in office, and I feel very sorry for him. I hope he makes a full recovery."