GARDAÍ HAVE still not recovered any weapon used in the killing of a man and woman who were found shot dead at a house in O’Malley Park, Southill, Limerick, yesterday.
The dead woman was Breda Waters (28), St Munchin’s Court, St Mary’s Park. The dead man was Des Kelly (23), who lived in the house at Castle Oaks View in O’Malley Park where he and Ms Waters were shot. The couple had started dating recently after Mr Kelly’s ex-partner and three children moved out of the family home.
It was initially thought the killings might have been a murder-cum-suicide but other lines of inquiry, including the possibility of a double murder, are also being pursued after a preliminary search of the house found no sign of a gun. Gardaí will begin a full search of the house this morning after State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy examines the remains before they are removed.
There was a social gathering at the house on Saturday night. Mr Kelly and Ms Waters stayed in the house. Mr Kelly’s sister also stayed with her six-month-old baby. She thought she heard shots being fired and she found Mr Kelly dead on the floor near the back door downstairs and then found the body of Ms Waters in one of the bedrooms. There were no signs of a break-in but a shotgun cartridge was found on the stairs.
Mr Kelly had a criminal record. He killed a teenage girl in 2003 when driving a stolen car. He also had convictions for violent assault and was not long out of prison.