THE funeral of the murdered Kerry teenager, James Healy (16), whose body was found last Tuesday on waste ground adjoining the Shanakill housing estate where he lived near Tralee, took place at the weekend.
The murder investigation into the fourth violent death in Kerry in a year is continuing, and the Garda says it may be a slow process. Suggestions that the death may be related to drug activities have been dismissed by senior officers investigating the case.
There are indications, however, according to members of the investigating team, that a violent row may have broken out involving rival teenagers in Tralee.
Gardai say they are pleased with the response from the public regarding the murder. They have appealed for anyone who may have had arrangements to meet Mr Healy on the night of his death to come forward.
At the funeral Mass in St Brendan's Church in Tralee on Saturday, Father Dan Canniffe said in his homily that James's death had served to remind people of the "horrific and tragic loss of life" that had taken place.
The presence of such a large congregation, he added, spoke eloquently of the abhorrence people felt regarding criminal activities. James's death was something that would never be forgotten and was a stark reminder of the sacredness of human life and the deep appreciation that people should have for it.
The youth's colleagues from the FAS training college provided a guard of honour at the church and graveyard.
There has been a public outpouring of sympathy in Tralee for Mr Healy's family, who are well liked and respected in the town. The publication last Wednesday in the Star newspaper and the following day in the Kerryman of pictures of the body have provoked condemnation of the role of the media in reporting such crimes.
The fact that the body was left lying for almost 24 hours where it was discovered at 10.40 a.m. on Tuesday, also drew criticism from the townspeople, whose disquiet was added to by the extremely bad weather which occurred in the town at the time.
Fianna Fail TD Mr Batt O'Keeffe was ruled out of order in the Dail last week when he attempted to question the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, on the delay in the arrival at the scene of the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison.
Dr Harbison's preliminary post mortem examination was begun late on Tuesday night and was not completed until the following day.
Mr O'Keeffe was also critical of the fact that a pathologist did not reach Schull, in west Cork, for almost a full day after the discovery of the body of French woman Ms Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was murdered just before Christmas.
An assistant forensic pathologist is expected to be appointed shortly to help ease Dr Harbison's workload.
The Tanaiste, Mr Spring, speaking in west Cork last week after the Kerry murder, said he was "appalled" at the delay in removing James Healy's body to the Tralee General Hospital. He said there were difficulties in deciding what the best options were regarding the location of an assistant pathologist.
Mr O'Keeffe had pressed in thee Dail for such an appointment to be made in Cork. Mr Spring said it did not follow that this would be an ideal move, given that murders also took place in other parts of the State.