Fr Michael Cusack
Local priest Fr Michael Cusack has called on the killer of Dundalk taxi driver Martin Mulligan to hand themselves over to the Gardaí.
Dundalk was rocked by the news yesterday that the 53-year-old father of two had been murdered in an incident around 3am at Carnmore in Kilcurry, off the R177 Dundalk to Armagh Road, in the early hours of the morning.
Fr Cusack, from St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in Dundalk, described the killing as a complete tragedy.
“Whoever did this, for God’s sake turn yourself in and do the decent thing,” said Fr Cusack.
“It’s not going to bring any real comfort to the family at all because they’ve lost the one who was nearest and dearest to them.
“A mother has lost her son, a wife has lost her husband and two daughters have lost their father.
“People are deeply shocked, he was an ordinary man doing his best to put bread on the table and in his efforts he ended up losing his life.
“It’s a day of complete tragedy and a nightmare for the family,” he said.
Fr Cusack also described Mr Mulligan, who previously worked as a coal man, as a “hardworking family man” and a “real gentleman”.
It has emerged that Mr Mulligan died after being stabbed three times following a row with a passenger.
A blade severed an artery in his leg during the attack, which also saw him knifed in the side and stomach.
Martin Mulligan RIP
No blood was found in Martin’s Skoda Octavia car, with his body discovered around 300m away.
Gardaí believe he may have been attacked in a row over a fare, with his killer either escaping on foot or getting collected by an accomplice.
While living in Waterview on the Lower Point Road for a number of years, Mr Mulligan is originally from St Clement’s Park, where his mother Nancy still resides. He was well known in the area as a coal man for many years. His nephew Garry is a member of the Sean O’Mahony’s team preparing for next Sunday’s County Final against St Patrick’s GFC. The Point Road side, whom Martin used to play for in his younger days, have led the tributes to him in the last 24 hours.
Martin is also survived by his wife Gráinne, daughters Shauna and Sharon and siblings Kevin, Gerry, Imelda and Clare. He was predeceased by his father Christy.
Anyone with information on the murder is being asked to contact the incident room at Dundalk Garda Station on 042 9388400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800666111 or any Garda Station.
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