We were just two ordinary people and somebody took that from us
By Mary Dennehy
THE partner of murdered Tallaght man Micheal Gallagher has re-issued an appeal for information on the ninth anniversary of his brutal death.
On January 18, Micheal Gallagher (60) and his partner of five years Sally Rodgers had just finished their pasta dinner and were watching television when somebody rang the front door bell of their Tymonville home.
Sally thought it was the milkman calling however, when she opened the door two men armed with a hammer and a knife forced their way into the house.
Sally told The Echo: “The horror of that night is always in my head, and that horror will never leave.
“To go from something so normal as finishing your dinner to being attacked by two strangers in your home is very hard to comprehend.
“Me and Micheal were just two ordinary people, who worked very hard and were happy with our lot and somebody took that from us.”
On that January evening nine years ago, Sally was attacked in her kitchen with a hammer while Micheal was stabbed several times beside her in a frenzied knife attack – with the father-of-five later pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital.
A painter and decorator, Micheal’s unprovoked death left his family, friends and neighbours in shock and disbelief, with gardai investigating the possibility that the attack was a case of mistaken identity.
“Appeals for information, including appeals on Crimecall, have been made over the years but no new evidence has come to light and gardai have not been able to establish a motive”, Sally said.
“Somebody out there knows something and I’m appealing to anybody with information to come forward or contact Tallaght Garda Station in confidence.
“I don’t know why these people came to our home, Micheal was not involved in anything criminal and I did nothing wrong.
“However, these people have left me with this horror for the rest of my life, there is no getting away from the loss of Micheal in such a violent way – and I am so afraid of never finding out why this happened to us.”
Fighting back the tears, Sally, who praised the continued support of her neighbours in Tymonville, concluded: “I can’t give up, I won’t give up, and until we get justice for Micheal, I will try to keep it out there – time can be all a person needs to come forward.”
Anybody with information on the attack, which happened just after 10pm on January 18, 2007, is encouraged to contact Tallaght Garda Station on 6666000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Crimestoppers is also appealing for information on two males who were seen on the roadway near Micheal’s house shortly after the incident nine years ago this Monday.
Visit www.crimestoppers.ie or call 1800 25 00 25.
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