No arrests in Stephen Lynch killing as Gardai continue to trawl through CCTV footage

By Mary Dennehy

NO ARRESTS have yet been made in connection with the death of Tallaght dad-of-three Stephen Lynch, who was laid to rest last Friday after a moving funeral Mass in St Aidan’s Church in Brookfield.

Since Stephen was run over by a car on Brookfield Close on Thursday, April 13, the community of Tallaght have stood behind his family, sharing their grief, despair and anger over the tragic loss of the young dad – whom gardai have confirmed was an “innocent young man” with no involvement in criminality.

That sense of solidarity was palpable in St Aidan’s Church last Friday, April 21, as people of all ages stood side by side in grief – carrying each other and holding up Stephen’s distraught family.

During the Mass, Stephen’s younger brother Ray and his mother Vera fought back their grief to deliver a heart-moving eulogy, which remembered Stephen’s caring nature, his immense love for his family and his wicked sense of humour.

Speaking to Stephen’s family at the end of the funeral mass, Bishop Eamon Walsh said: “We can’t imagine the depths of your grief at a time like this, the hole that’s in your hearts, and the thoughts that are running through your head.

“What we know is that you couldn’t have got to this stage was it not for the wonderful and generous hearts of the people of Tallaght.

“Once again [the Tallaght community] has come up trumps and you have shown the depth of your care and your love and your outreach in so many ways – not just in words or on Facebook but in action, and every time I come to a funeral here I get so inspired that the heart of Tallaght is something so generous and so deep.”

The day before Stephen’s funeral a number of homes in Tallaght and its surrounding area were searched in connection with the murder.

Described to The Echo by a Garda source as “evidence gathering”, the operation resulted in a number of homes being raided and items seized for forensic examination.

Speaking with The Echo this week, a Garda source said: “Investigations into Stephen’s death are continuing and we are nearly at the end of viewing a large amount of CCTV, which stretches from Tallaght to Crumlin.

“A number of people have come forward with information and we are encouraging anybody else who feels they can assist investigations to make contact with Tallaght Garda Station.

“A number of items are also in various stages of forensic analysis and we are currently awaiting these results.
“No arrests have yet been made.”

Contact Tallaght Garda Station on 6666000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station with information.