Gardai in Co Laois last night said they did not suspect foul play in the death of a man found shot in his home yesterday morning. The death was yet another blow to the family of Philomena Gillane, the Galway woman who was seven months pregnant when she was shot and stabbed to death in May 1994.
Mr Denis Donoher (61), a publican, was described locally as having been a close friend of Mrs Gillane's sister, Ms Mary Gordon, for several years. Ms Gordon is understood to have found Mr Donoher's body. Mr Donoher was found in the living room of an apartment above the Central Bar in Mount mellick. It is understood he died from a shotgun wound to his chest. A shotgun was found near his body.
Mr Donoher's body was taken to Portlaoise General Hospital where a post-mortem examination was carried out. Preliminary results and examination of the scene have led gardai to decide that he had shot himself.
Ms Gordon's sister, Bridie, and her brothers, Paddy and Martin, became embroiled in the aftermath of Philomena's murder. The brothers were involved in a fracas with Ms Gillane's husband, Pat, and his brother, Kevin, in June 1995, when Mr Martin Gordon suffered severe wounds when he was struck in the stomach and buttocks with a slash hook.
All four were charged in relation to the incident but the charges were later dropped.
Last year Pat Gillane was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for soliciting two Dublin men to murder his wife. Ms Bridie Gordon was named in court as having had an affair with Gillane while he was married to her sister. In September 1996, their mother Nonie collapsed and died.
Gardai believe Philomena Gillane was shot twice with an automatic shotgun which jammed and she was finally killed by seven stab wounds from a kitchen knife in her home. Her body, still dressed in her nightclothes, was placed in the boot of her car and driven to the car park at Athlone train station, where it was found by workmen on May 18th, 1994.