Ireland

Depiction of Carlow pensioner incident in parades described as ‘disgusting’

Friends of dead man try but fail to get response from organisers of two parades

Gardaí removing the body of Peadar Doyle from the post office on Staplestown Road in Carlow in January. Photograph: Dylan Vaughan

Sarah Slater
Mon Mar 21 2022 - 17:02

Two entries St Patrick’s Day parades which were based on an incident in which a dead pensioner was brought to a Carlow town post office in an alleged attempt to claim his pension have been described as “disgusting”.

Peadar Doyle, 66, from Pollerton, Co Carlow passed away on Friday, January 21st, and gardaí­believe the pensioner was already dead when he was taken into his nearby post office although a postmortem has determined there was no foul play in the death itself.

The two entries representing the post office incident appeared at Belmullet Festival, Co Mayo and in Kilfenora, Co Clare. Intended to be humorous, it seemed, pictures posted on social media of one showed two men dragging a dummy with another person wearing a box painted in the colours of An Post. One of the entries won an award for the depiction.

However, those involved have been criticised by relatives and friends of the man.

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A niece of Mr Doyle’s has said her family is “angered at the representations” of her uncle and thanked her local community for their support shown to them.

Charmaine Doyle said: “I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to all who have shown their support for my family and who have voiced their anger toward the ridicule that my uncle has received.

Rory Healy, of R Healy and Son Funeral Directors who managed Mr Doyle’s funeral and was also a good friend said he was “horrified” to learn of the St Patrick’s Day parade entries.

“By allowing the entries to be made depicting what happened to Mr Doyle is deplorable and despicable. To make a joke out of it is disgusting especially knowing what the family went through and are going through.” said Mr Healy.

Former Independent county councillor Walter Lacey who is also a friend of the Doyle family said they are “extremely upset” but “buoyed” by the fact that the local community have condemned the parade entries.

“How people think it is okay to publicly depict what happened to him is beyond understanding,” said Mr Lacey.

“To do such a thing and mock the death of a man is simply incomprehensible especially on St Patrick’s Day when we are supposed to be celebrating our Irish heritage and everything that is good about the country.

“A man is dead and to see a replica of him being dragged around in a parade is disgusting.

The parade organisers from both Kilfenora and Belmullet were contacted for comment about the entries but no comment was made.

Members of the community have also contacted both of the parade organisers looking for an apology to be given to the family but have not heard from them.

Facebook images and videos from the Belmullet Festival organisers of the entry have been taken down from the social media platform.

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