Anniversary of unsolved murder of Limerick taxi driver
Murder victim Henry Hurley
THIS week marks the anniversary of one of Limerick’s most shocking unsolved crimes - the brutal murder in Cratloe in 1989 of city taxi driver Henry Hurley.
Mr Hurley, 32, of Summerville Avenue, South Circular Road, was from a respected business family that owned Clune’s tobacco factory. He had been driving a taxi in Limerick for a number of years and was well-known to fellow taximen and members of the public having worked nights and weekends.
Mr Hurley was always very well dressed and was said to have the cleanest cab in Limerick.
It has been speculated that he picked up a fare just prior to his murder, which is believed to have occurred in the early hours of July 7, 1989.
As the 21st anniversary of his death passed two years ago, gardai relaunched an appeal for information on the crime, including the leafleting of taxi ranks in Limerick and a poster campaign at bus stops and post offices. It is one of a number of cold case murders that remains a priority for the Garda Serious Crime Review Team. Led by Shannon gardai, the investigation into Henry Hurley’s murder has never been closed.
One man was charged and brought to court in 1991 in connection with the crime, but the case collapsed after the Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi.
Mr Hurley was last seen alive at approximately 3am on Friday, July 7, 1989 near Setrights Cross and gardai are satisfied with the sighting that put two men in his white Nissan Sunny at that time. He was reported missing later that morning and his body was found in the Reaskcamogue area of the Cratloe Hills, locally known as the ‘golf balls’ at around 4.30pm on the same day. A post-mortem examination revealed that Henry Hurley had met a violent death.
Gardai are convinced there are people who may have been in Limerick city or in the Cratloe or Sixmilebridge areas that morning and who may have valuable information in relation to the death of Mr Hurley.
They have not given up hope that someone who may have had something on their mind for the past 23 years will come forward.
A reward is on offer to anybody with information that could lead to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for the awful crime.
That information can be given in confidence by calling the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111; Crimestoppers on 1800 250 025; the Garda Serious Crime Review Team Office at 01 6663444 or Shannon gardai at 061 361 212.
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Monday 20 May 2013
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