THE FATHER of a young woman murdered by her ex-boyfriend five years ago was found dead in his home late on Tuesday.
Foul play is not suspected in relation to the death of Peter Keaney (47) who died at his house in Elm Park, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
Mr Keaney was the father of Sheola Keaney (19), who was strangled while returning to her home in Cobh, Co Cork, after a night out in July 2006. She was missing for three days before her body was found under plastic sheeting in a lane.
Her former boyfriend Thomas Kennedy (25) was given a life sentence after pleading guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court in Cork later that year.
Mr Keaney’s body was discovered in the bathroom of his home on Tuesday evening by neighbours after they became concerned about his whereabouts.
It is understood he had been dead for a number of days before being found.
A postmortem was carried out at Waterford Regional Hospital yesterday but it is believed he may have suffered a heart attack.
Originally from Cobh, Mr Keaney was outspoken in his condemnation of his daughter’s murderer.
He was also a passionate advocate for victims’ rights, highlighting what he perceived as injustices in the court and prison systems.
In recent years he was active in Advic, the organisation for the families of homicide victims.
Advic secretary Annie Mulvaney said yesterday she was “saddened” by his death.