“I Cannot Begin To Imagine The Pain And Distress You Have Endured”

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From top: Mary Boyle; from left: Solicitor Darragh Mackin, Margo O’Donnell, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Mary Boyle’s sister Ann Doherty in Government Buildings

Further to the meeting between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Ann Doherty, the twin sister of murdered schoolgirl Mary Boyle…

Gemma O’Doherty writes:

The Taoiseach has sent a personal letter to Ann Doherty, the twin sister of Mary Boyle, acknowledging ‘the pain and distress she has endured through many years.’

It follows their meeting of last Thursday (November 19) in Government Buildings where she informed Enda Kenny of her belief that Mary’s killer has been protected for almost four decades by some people known to the murdered schoolgirl and some members of the Gardai.

Mary was six when she vanished on her grandparents’ farm in Cashelard, Donegal in March, 1977. Her remains have never been found.

Ann believes her identical twin was murdered by somebody known to her because she was going to reveal a terrible secret.

She has also been informed by a number of retired officers that a politician made a phone call to Ballyshannon station in the days after the murder requesting that certain people were not to be considered suspects. Ann believes the investigation was hindered as a result.

Mr Kenny thanked Ann for meeting him and for ‘the honest manner’ in which she spoke ‘from the heart’ about her sister Mary.

‘I cannot begin to imagine the pain and distress you have endured in the many years that have gone by,’ he said.

Mr Kenny said he had sent a report about the meeting and the points made by Ann to the Department of Justice to be forwarded to the Gardai and the Donegal Coroner Dr Denis McCauley.

He also said that he hoped Ann would achieve a ‘resolution on this difficult journey.’

Ann has expressed gratitude to Mr Kenny for taking the time to meet her and has asked that he now publicly endorse her campaign for justice, which she has taken to Brussels, Stormont and Westminster.

Ann attended the meeting with her husband Shane, her solicitor Darragh Mackin and her cousin Margo O’Donnell.

“We had a productive meeting with the Taoiseach,” she said.

He is now aware of the very serious concerns we have about what happened to Mary and he is also aware that there have been issues of child safety in relation to her killer for almost 40 years.

“I hope he will come out publicly now to support our camapign to find Mary and to encourage the Gardai to finally act and bring her killer to justice.”

Mr Kenny telephoned Margo O’Donnell earlier this week to say he would do all he could to support the women in their search for Mary and would contact her again in the coming days with an update on the matter.

Previously: The Meeting For Mary

Mary Boyle And ‘Political Interference’

Pic: Gemma O’Doherty

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41 thoughts on ““I Cannot Begin To Imagine The Pain And Distress You Have Endured”

        1. han solo's carbonite dream

          he is a bit dapper , I’d say the gays are in a swoon beating the single ladies for his hand but it’s not the story for it.

        1. Spaghetti Hoop

          You’re not wrong ;)

          Back to being appropriate, hope the truth is finally uncovered. Supporting the campaign.

        1. Vera from d'country

          Objectifying someone is sexist
          Judging someone based purely on their looks is sexist
          Sexism in language is an offensive way of looking at someone (reducing them to the sum of their looks)

          1. rotide

            Ahjayzis is judging yer man on his looks, based on his looks.

            Its objectifying him, nothing more.

            Back to your safe space.

    1. Neilo

      @ahyjazis: don’t ever change, baby. I find your patented blend of intellect and libido a tonic hereabouts.

  1. han solo's carbonite dream

    this story is so sad and if the allegations are true it’s a shocking indictment that even the murder of a child is not enough to break the circle of cronyism

    one would wonder if margo’Donnell wasn’t involved if they’d be given the time of day, maybe i’m too embittered.

  2. Joe cool

    Utterly heartbreaking story. I hope I’m wrong, but they’ll hear no more of this. All this was was a photo op feigning interest from Edna.

      1. FreshFish

        No but haven’t you noticed we haven’t heard a lot from Susan Boyle either lately? Is this something to do with Dennis O’Brien as well? We need to get that McNally one on the case

        1. Peter Dempsey

          Well Ollie, I am making an educated guess that Enda DIDN’T but previously published articles have hinted at a politician that may be guilty.

          If you know better then say so.

    1. Vera from d'country

      Isn’t this a sign from Enda to the Guards that he is taking an interest in this case. Wouldn’t that be something that helps them to prioritise the time and attention given to it?
      I dislike the snivelling little rake as much as the next person but even I can see this could do some good.

      1. Anne

        He was already in touch with them a few years back he said, but he said he heard no more and never followed up.

  3. ollie

    March 1977, FG/Labour government, alleged corruption in Donegal gardai, politicians interfering in the judicial process.
    Tea and sympathy from Kenny but no concrete action.

    Why do we continually elect these idiots?

    1. rotide

      What do you want him to do? Don the bat suit and go out and track down the perp himself?

      Save the axe grinding for somewhere else.

      1. ollie

        Rotide he could pack in the pretend interest and the photo op, and you could pack in using words like “perp”

        1. All the good ones fly south for winter

          In fairness it was well within context when one takes the batman analogy into account.

          1. rotide

            i was going to link a CSI button, but figured that might be a bit crass.

            Turns out, Ollie needs that sort of help.

  4. smolach

    how the holy hell is FG ahead in the polls? can people not see him and understand what he is ? slimy creep

    1. han solo's carbonite dream

      middle class people like to think they are better off and part of the senior management when most of them aren’t and never will be. But they just hang on for a taste of it.
      unless they are socially concerned (who will vote labour) they will vote centre-right FF or FG.

      ironically they’d probably be better off if they voted for a more left-wing party but
      I suppose nothing says “I’m not that rich” more than a vote for Joe Higgins , can’t have the neighbours knowing that

  5. phil

    I thought the Gardai and courts were supposed to be separate to Government , what the point of chasing down Kenny? Double useless…

  6. realPolithicks

    What he says: “I Cannot Begin To Imagine The Pain And Distress You Have Endured”
    What he is thinking: “nor do I give a flying fupp”

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