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The scene at Windyhall, Letterkenny. Joe Dunne
Letterkenny

Post-mortems to take place on Daniel and Damien Duffy who died in suspected murder-suicide

It was confirmed that no firearm was used during the incident.

POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS on two men found dead in a suspected murder-suicide in Donegal are set to take place today. 

The bodies of the men, a father and son, were found in two separate locations at a home in the Windyhall area of Letterkenny yesterday afternoon. 

Gardaí said one man, aged in his 80s, was discovered in the house while a second man, aged in his 50s, was discovered in a car in an adjacent shed at the property. 

The son has been named locally as Damien Duffy and the father as Daniel Duffy. At this moment in time, gardaí are working on the theory that Damien killed his father before taking his own life. 

The men were well-known in the area and came from a highly respected family. The father had long retired from a semi-state company he had worked for all his life. 

Officers said that the results of the post-mortem examinations will determine the course of the investigation. 

It was also confirmed that no firearm was used during the incident. 

Mayor of Letterkenny and Milford Municipal District councillor Jimmy Kavanagh said the community was in shock.

“It’s absolutely shocking news and an awful tragedy,” said the Fine Gael representative.

“This community is absolutely shocked to hear this and our heart goes out to those affected by this.

“It heightens the sadness of it that we’re in the season of Christmas and it’s just an awful tragedy.”

If you need to talk, contact:

  • Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
  • National Suicide Helpline 1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
  • Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
  • Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie
  • Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
  • Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)