THE daughters of murdered Irishman Michael McCoy have appealed to the public to help find his killers.
The body of the 64-year-old was found in Ballinscorney Woods, close to his Dublin home on September 30 2016.
The father of three was out walking his dogs at the time of the incident, and one of his boxer dogs Sophie stayed with his body until he was found by rescue teams.
Speaking to RTÉ's Crime Call, Michael’s wife Caitríona recalled the details of that day: “In hindsight you’d notice things were a little bit, not quite right. The post hadn’t been brought in and the hens hadn’t been let out.
"I didn’t think too much of it.”
Catríona said things 'weren't quite right' the day Michael died. (Picture: RTÉ)But after Michael still hadn’t returned home by teatime Caitríona and their daughter Suzanne went looking for him.
Suzanne said: “We drove up the usual place where Dad walked to see if his car was there.”
Once they saw Michael’s car parked in his usual spot, they decided to go into the woods and search for him.
Suzanne continued: “We were worried he might have had an accident or something, that he’d fallen over.
"He wasn’t there and my mum was getting more nervous. Then we went home and called the Gards.”
Gardaí called in the Dublin Wicklow Mountain Rescue team to assist with a full scale search of Ballinascorney Woods.
Rescue teams scoured the forest and pathways as they looked for Michael, but as the hours wore on Michael’s family began to fear the worst.
Suzanne recalls the shock at hearing the news: “They came back at six in the morning to say that they’d found him, and he was dead.”
Michael’s youngest daughter Sarah was living in New York and recalls the shock at hearing the news: “The knowing how it happened is something you probably just try to come to terms with later.
"Because you’re just so in shock so I don’t think you can really comprehend at the start.”
His eldest daughter Rachel speaks of the devastating effect it still has on their family: “He’ll never be a granddad, and that’s not fair.
"So if someone knows something just tell, don’t protect someone.”
It is believed the answers to explain the murder may well lie within the community of Ballinascorney.
Gardaí are appealing directly to those who may know what happened to Michael.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimecall on 1800 40 50 60 or Tallaght Garda Station on (01) 666 6000.
See More: An Garda Síochána, Featured, Irish, Michael McCoy
