Murder victim"s family must wait to bury son

Updated: Wednesday, 27th May, 2009 11:05am

The devastated family of murder victim David Sharkey is facing an agonising wait before they can bury their son after a second post-mortem examination was requested on his body.

Solicitors acting for the man accused of Mr Sharkey"s murder have requested that a second post-mortem be carried out.

It is understood this examination will not take place until 2nd June.

Mr Sharkey"s body will not be released to his grieving family until this examination takes place and no funeral arrangements can thus be made. The enforced wait has further compounded the family"s grief and devastation following the loss of a second son in violent circumstances. David and Anne Sharkey"s younger son, Simon, was just 18 when he was stabbed at a house party in Johnstown in 2005.

Superintendent Michael Devine, of Navan Garda Station, confirmed that a second post-mortem examination is to be carried out on Mr Sharkey"s body.

He added that he wanted to pass on his condolences to the Sharkey family and said: 'We extend our sympathy to the Sharkey family at this difficult time for everybody concerned.'

On the night of 17th May last, the body of 28-year-old David Sharkey was found murdered in the boot of his BMW car near a halting site in Finglas. An apartment at Blackcastle, Navan, was sealed off for much of last week while forensic experts examined the scene where the murder is believed to have taken place.

A 26-year-old man was brought before Trim District Court last Thursday charged with the murder.

Stephen Penrose (26), of no fixed abode, is alleged to have murdered David Sharkey at Parkview, Blackcastle, Navan, on Sunday 17th May. He was remanded in custody by Judge Tom Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile, Navan Community Development Association opened up the Teach na Daoine Community House in Claremont on Saturday to support the local community following the tragic death of Mr Sharkey.

The Claremont area was devastated to learn of the death of the victim just a few years after his younger brother, Simon, also lost his life in tragic circumstances.

To help support the community, the Teach na Daoine Community House was opened on Saturday and several residents called throughout the day. Helen Callan, who is a member of the committee, said they opened the house so that people could come in and express what they were feeling and chat among themselves and support each other.

She explained that many of the Sharkey family"s neighbours were finding it hard to approach the family and did not know what to say. 'People were very stressed and did not know how to cope.

'They didn"t know what to say or do. It wasn"t that they didn"t want to call to the family, they just did not know what to say.'

Ms Callan added: 'There is still a lot of shock and sadness in the area. People can"t believe it.

'They are devastated. The house was open for them to call up here and that is what a community house is for - being there for the community at a time of need.'

On behalf of the committee, Ms Callan also offered her condolences to the Sharkey family on their loss.