Man (30) charged with double murder of Hanrahans on Kerry farm

Thomas Barrett from Causeway in Co Kerry at Listowel District Court yesterday evening
Photograph: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus

A 30-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded in custody after he was last night charged with the murder of a farmer and his son, whose bodies were found with gunshot wounds at their home in north Kerry last week.

Thomas Barrett, with an address at Cleandries, Causeway, Co Kerry, was brought before a
special sitting of Listowel District Court last night where he was charged with the murders of
Michael Hanrahan (60) and his son Denis (27), at their home in Moyvane on March 26th.

Mr Barrett was formally charged that he did murder Michael Hanrahan and Denis Hanrahan
at their bungalow home at Gortdromsallihy, Moyvane, on March 26th last, contrary to common law.

Det Sgt John Heaslip told the court that he had arrested Mr Barrett at 5.58pm yesterday
outside Listowel Garda station and charged him with both murders.

He said that Mr Barrett replied "No" to each charge when they were put to him after caution.
Supt John Riordan of Listowel Garda station said he was seeking a remand in custody.

Judge Mary O'Halloran remanded Mr Barrett in custody at Cork Prison to appear again at
Listowel District Court tomorrow.

Judge O'Halloran asked if there were any other applications. Solicitor for Mr Barrett, Michael Dowling, said he had no applications to make then but that he would be making applications at the remand hearing tomorrow.

Mr Barrett, who was dressed in a navy jumper with a buttoned-up neck and denim jeans, sat with his
arms folded and didn't speak during yesterday's three-minute hearing.

Afterwards as he was brought from the courthouse he covered his head with a grey jacket.
Several among the crowd of almost 80 onlookers who had gathered outside the courthouse jeered
as he was escorted by gardaí to a waiting patrol car.

Meanwhile, Michael and Denis Hanrahan's remains will lie in repose today between 4pm and
7pm at Lyons's Funeral Home at Derry, Listowel, before being removed to the Church of the
Assumption in their native Moyvane.

The popular widower wrote the local notes for both the Kerryman and Limerick Leader newspapers.
He and his son, who helped out on the farm when not working as a plasterer, will be buried tomorrow
at Murhur following Mass at the Church of the Assumption at noon.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times