New York Murder victim buried in Robeen
20 November 1996
Harrowing scenes were witnessed at the funeral of New York murder victim P.J. Fahy in his native Robeen, County Mayo, last week. The parish church in Robeen was packed to overflowing as locals turned out in force to pay their last respects. Similar scenes of a community deep in mourning marked the burial at the local cemetery.
Badly beaten P.J. (33) was found in a shallow grave in the Queens area of the city after being missing for a week. Police said he had been shot twice in the head and then sexually mutilated.
Investigating detectives believe it was a punishment for an affair PJ had with the wife of a jailed Mafia boss. A former construction worker, PJ was the co-owner, with his brother, of Backdrafts bar in Queens.
Robeen Parish Priest, Fr. Harry Bell, the main celebrant at the Funeral Mass, described P.J. as a man devoted to his family and his native county.
Fr. Bell said: "P.J. had a tranquil and serene nature which radiated warmth and happiness.
"He brought that good nature to bear on all the activities to which he gave his support".
Though very successful in the United States, Fr. Bell said, PJ loved nothing more than to come home and visit family and friends. The last trip to Co. Mayo for P.J., Fr. Bell said, was only a few weeks ago.
Fr. Bell added that his fond memories of P.J. would not be influenced in any way by what he described as "the sensational rumours of the media".
The chief mourners were P.J.'s parents, Joe Francis and Kathleen;
brothers, Peter (Robeen), Frank (England), Joe and Sean, who both
travelled from the United States.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - November 1996
