The sentencing of Gregory Fox for the murder of his wife and two children was seen yesterday as the end of a horrific chapter for the people of Castledaly in Westmeath.
For it was local people who raised the alarm on the morning the bodies of Debbie Fox and her two children Trevor and Cillian were found in their home in the village located between Moate and Athlone.
It was a bright Saturday morning in July 2001 when neighbours noticed that the shutters were still down on the shop which was run by Gregory and Debbie Fox.
Newspapers in their plastic wrapping lay on the ground outside, even though it was after 9 a.m..
Just before 10 a.m. a neighbour went around to the back of the house and saw the body of Ms Fox on the floor. Gardaí and neighbours gained access to the house and made the gruesome discoveries.
On the following Tuesday, Gregory Fox appeared before Athlone District Court, charged with the murder of his wife and two sons.
Local people were reluctant to talk about the event when reporters descended on the village after news of the killings emerged. The people who did talk said Gregory and Debbie Fox were "as nice a couple as you could meet".
They had bought the shop and moved from Dublin about 18 months earlier.
They described the couple as friendly and hard-working, while the boys were mannerly and mischievous. Some said the young couple appeared to be very happy together and were often seen socialising in FitzGeralds, the local pub.
While the jailing of Gregory Fox was the main talking point in Castledaly yesterday, people were still reluctant to talk publicly about the event. The only public reminder of the incident was a bunch of flowers lying outside the family home.
Local parish priest Father James O'Beirne said he did not want to say anything on behalf of the parish. It was not good to be going over details of the tragedy again and recreating the upset that people felt, he said.
Local publican Mr Frank FitzGerald said it was the end of the story for people in Castledaly and they were relieved that it was all over at last.
"Life has to go on now," he said.
