THE double tragedy in the quiet Co Limerick village of Oola yesterday, which left an elderly couple dead, has shocked the community.
Mrs Kitty Gubbins and her husband, Jimmy, were found lying side by side near the back door of their bungalow in the village. A shotgun was found nearby. Gardai are not looking for a third party in connection with the deaths.
Mr and Mrs Gubbins, who were in their 70s, were regarded as a quiet couple who kept very much to themselves.
Mr Jimmy Kirby, a neighbour who saw the curtains still drawn, called to the house and found the bodies shortly after noon.
According to the local parish priest, Father Liam McNamara, the couple had been looking forward to the wedding of Mrs Gubbins's niece, Ms Mary Heuston, in Oola tomorrow. He said they had not appeared to be in any distress. He last saw Mrs Gubbins alive on Wednesday when she attended Mass.
"The Gubbins were natives of the area and very well known. Jimmy was involved for many years in community work including the local community centre and had helped with fundraising for it.
He was a great historian and a great source of local information. There was no one better at tracing family roots. He had a very good sense of humour and was very witty. Their deaths have left a huge void in the area. The whole community is saddened and shattered by the tragedy - we just don't know why it happened", Father McNamara said.
Mr and Mrs Gubbins farmed 50 acres in the locality and were regarded as unassuming people who went quietly about their business.
Gardai said last evening that they were not drawing any firm conclusions until the results of a postmortem examination as well as forensic tests were available.
Chief Supt Liam Harris said "there was evidence of what appears to be gunshot wounds. We are awaiting the pathologist to perform a post mortem and the Garda forensic team is also due. We are continuing inquiries locally with the aim of establishing what happened".
Most neighbours in Oola were too shocked to discuss the double tragedy.
People in the locality say there was never any friction in the household and the couple was regarded as very happy. Mr and Mrs Gubbins are survived by a son, Robert, and a daughter, Noreen. Last night gardai were attempting to contact them in Dublin.