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RTÉ Documentary To Shed New Light On Priest's Death In Offaly

Tuesday, 11 October 2022 09:39

37 years on and questions about Father Molloy's demise remain.

An RTÉ TV documentary to be broadcast tonight will reveal new details about the controversial death of Father Niall Molloy in Offaly in 1985.

The popular priest was killed following a struggle in the bedroom of his married friend Therése Flynn in Clara.

During her husband Richard Flynn’s trial Judge Frank Roe was emphatic that despite rumours there was nothing improper in the relationship between Fr Molloy and Richard Flynn’s wife Thérèse that may have explained the assault:

"It is perfectly clear from all the evidence that the friendship between Father Molloy and Mrs Flynn was a perfectly proper one... They were great friends for nearly thirty years and there is not an iota of evidence that there was anything improper in their relationship.” - Trial transcript June 12, 1986.

The new documents, however, show that in Richard Flynn’s view there was much more to the relationship between Fr Molloy and Thérèse Flynn than Judge Frank Roe was aware of. The documents shown tonight by RTÉ Investigate suggest a previously undisclosed motive for Richard Flynn’s attack on Fr Molloy. 

It is now 37 years on from the priest's death and despite a cold case review by the Serious Crime Review Team, a Department of Justice review, a report by the Garda Ombudsman, a two-part documentary last year on RTÉ One, and last month, the release of a new book questions about the case still persist.

Bill Maher, a nephew of Father Molloy, says a commission of investigation is needed:

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