The Killing of Father Niall Molloy: Anatomy of an Injustice

by Maresa Fagan, Sharon Lawless

Separating fact from fiction, Anatomy of an Injustice—The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy re-examines the astonishing circumstances surrounding the death of a 52-year-old priest almost forty years ago.

In July 1985, the discovery of Fr Niall Molloy's badly beaten body in the bedroom of his close friends and business associates, Richard and Therese Flynn, was the stuff of soap operas, not of a small rural village in the Irish midlands.

The gentle-natured cleric came to a violent and bloody end during a weekend of extravagant wedding celebrations at the Flynn stately home, Kilcoursey House.

For decades, the events of that tragic night fuelled rife speculation and gossip, as well as allegations of a cover-up by the State and Church, and today his death remains unsolved and shrouded in mystery.

From an extraordinary criminal trial and acquittal, which conflicted with a subsequent inquest verdict, to a botched investigation and questions over motive, the savage beating of Fr Niall Molloy continues to beg more questions than answers.

Anatomy of an Injustice—The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy builds on fresh revelations unveiled in a recent two-part TV documentary for RTE, ‘The killing of Fr Niall Molloy', to detail and document the whole story before and after that fateful summer Sunday.

In this new book, TV documentary producer, Sharon Lawless of Flawless Films, and Maresa Fagan, a journalist of 20 years standing, delve further into the case to test evidence, old and new, and follow the money trail.

It forensically analyses all available facts and testimony given at the 1986 trial and inquest and also hears from criminal and medical experts about how Fr Molloy died and about what really might have occurred that night.

This story of significant public interest also sheds light on the many injustices in the case and how the Molloy family were let down by the State and criminal justice system.

Genres: True Crime

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2022

Reviews

[Geraldine Comiskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most shocking examples of corruption in the Irish justice system, this is a story that badly needed to be told, because, forty years on and despite repeated calls for a proper investigation, the monsters who murdered Fr Niall Molloy and covered it up were never convicted.
Based on the evidence, the murder of the innocent and genial priest was a cowardly act to cover up the fact that Richard and Therese Flynn - his "friends" - were fleecing him. They even tried cash in a fraudulent insurance policy Therese had taken out on him, claiming to be his sister.
While it's too late to bring the late Richard and Therese Flynn to justice, the readers can judge them along with corrupt judge Frank Roe (who told the jury not to convict Richard Flynn despite an admission of guilt and overwhelming evidence), the inept local GP (Dr Daniel O'Sullivan) and parish priest (Fr Jim Deignan) who failed to call 999 (Fr Jim Deignan). The latter, amazingly, went home to look for his glasses, before returning to give his dying colleague the Last Rites, and admitted to having been more concerned about a "scandal" in the church than saving a God-given human life (BTW it's worth noting that any "scandal" would have been well aired by now if there was cause for it, which makes the parish priest's attitude an unjust slur in itself).
The book is competently researched and goes into forensic detail without over-sensationalising the murder (it is already sensational enough).
It's also a fascinating window into the Ireland of the 1980s, when the gap between the rich and poor was probably just as wide but creature comforts fewer - and yet, for some people, then as now, image was everything.

[James Durkan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery is wild. 38 years ago, Fr Molloy died in extremely suspicious circumstances, and still to this day nobody knows how. So much ineptness, and corruption stains this case. I first read about it on Reddit and instantly I was fascinated. Here’s hoping someday justice will come.
Giving it three stars only because of how it read. It was all a very matter of fact, questioning tone, and the way it was written could have been flipped. It read like a documentary. And like the killing, it left far more questions than answers.

[Beth Woods · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story that points towards some form of injustice, whether deliberate or through negligence. As for the book itself though, it is extremely repetitive and comes across as quite biased.

[Maxine-Eloise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is so Interesting and shows just how corrupt Irish law was. 3 starts due to the way it’s written. Wasn’t a big fan of how this was put across. But the information within was very interesting

[Karen Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anatomy of an Injustice was a perfect title for this book.

The failing of the Garda's, Courts, Church and most of all the community of the area.

You come away with a bad taste in your mouth and angry that a person can lose their life and no one is held responsible even though a man said he did it.

This case should be reopen.

[Adrienne Cullen-Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember the murder in question but was amazed to find that nobody was found guilty of this appalling murder. Richard Flynn admitted to killing the priest although I never really accepted this. I believed his wife did the dastardly deed and that he covered up for her. What was clear from the outset was there was a massive cover up by the Judicial system (friends in high places), the religious communities the Flynn family who obviously knew more than they admitted. There were plenty of people in that house that night so more information should have been forthcoming. What I couldn't accept was the fact that the Flynn's never dialled 999 for an ambulance to get the dying priest to hospital. This clergyman thought that these people were his friends; some friends who allowed a severely injured man to die without help. As for the priest who attended Fr. Molloy when he was dying he too did nothing to help him. He was just doing his job as he said in the book. He had ample opportunity to dial 999 but turned a blind eye to everything that was going on. The doctor too left a lot to be desired. No wonder the Molloy family are fighting for justice as there was no justice in this case. The late Judge Row was a disgrace to the judicial system. They were all "horsey" people who covered up for each other. What I couldn't accept was the depth of the friendship with the priest and the Flynns. He even had a room in their house. A very well written book and a thoroughly good read. The corruption within Government circles, the judicial system and the religious organizations was appalling. After reading that book I could not longer have any faith in the above organizations. Personally I think the argument started over money. The Flynns owed the priest money which they apparently did not have.

[Andrea James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting case but an incredibly repetitive book. I got through most of the book but didn't to the end because I couldn't face yet another retelling of the same details.

[Bob Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story,but this book does not add anything not already known. Very repetitive, and biased in favour of the Molloy side of the story, rather than being completely independent.

[Deirdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting....although a bit repetitive at times

[Stephen McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read pulling the facts surrounding one of Ireland’s most famous unsolved murders together.