This article is from page 3 of the 2008-07-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
DETAILS of the last known move- ments of a north Clare man, who dis- appeared almost eight years ago and whose body was never found, have been recalled at an inquest in Ennis.
Frank Kilkenny (36), who was from north Clare and who lived in Caherdavin, Limerick, was last seen at the Cliffs of Moher on October 21, 2000.
Despite extensive searches, his body was never found and County
Coroner Isobel O’Dea received au- thority from the Minister for Justice to hold the inquest. Members of Mr Kilkenny’s family attended the Cor- oner’s Court last week.
Garda Andy Monahan told the in- quest that on November 2, 2000, he took a witness statement from JJ Mooney from Lisdoonvarna. He had picked up a man in his hackney at Whelan’s quarry, near Ennis, to go to the Cliffs of Moher.
‘He said he would pay £20. On the way, I had a conversation with this
man about sport and other things. He appeared fine. I was informed by the man that he was Frank Kilkenny from Lahinch. I knew his father,” Mr Mooney said, in his statement to eNO NB
“When we arrived in Ennistymon, he asked me if I would bring him to the Cliffs of Moher.
“When we arrived at the cliffs, he said he was to meet some friend. He got out of my car and walked towards the cliffs. I waited for him to return, but he did not. He told he that he was
meeting two friends from Kerry.
“T told him that he could pay me when he returned and I would bring his friend to Doolin,” said Mr Moon- Oe He said he waited for about three- quarters of an hour, but Mr Kilkenny did not return.
Garda Monahan also took a witness statement from Mary Mulqueeny from Doolin. She told him she had seen Mr Kilkenny in Ennis at around 6.20pm on October 21, 2000.
She said that she was driving from
Ennis to Doolin, when she spotted Mr Kilkenny near the Maid of Erin roundabout, on the Ennistymon road out of Ennis.
“I observed Frank Kilkenny stand- ing off the footpath and on the side of the road. His hand was raised up and it appeared he was thumbing a lift,” she told gardai.
A search of the coastline was car- ried out by Doolin Rescue Services, but this also proved negative.
Ms O’Dea recorded an open ver- ote