Psni appeal after wedding day death

Police in Northern Ireland investigating the death of Bernard McGinley at a wedding in Fermanagh yesterday, have appealed to those involved in the incident to give themselves up.

Mr McGinley (63), from Longford, sustained a gunshot wound to the chest outside St Mary’s chapel on Main Street, Newtownbutler at 1pm. He was driven by other wedding guests to Lisnaskea police station from where he was flown by police helicopter to the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. where he tragically died.

The dead man is understood to have extended family living around Athlone area. Gardai have confirmed that a Family Liaison Officer has been put in place to liaise directly with Mr McGinley’s relatives locally.

A second man was also injured as a result of the incident but did not sustain life-threatening injuries.

The officer leading the investigation into the murder, Detective Chief Inspector Una Jennings from Serious Crime Branch, said on Thursday afternoon: “What should have been a day of joy and celebration has been turned into one of heartbreak and tragedy. I want to offer my sympathies to all those affected by these tragic events.”

“We are following a number of very definite lines of enquiry in this investigation, thanks to accounts of events outside the church before the wedding ceremony given to us by other guests. We are continuing to liaise with these individuals and families at this very difficult and tragic time”.

“But my appeal today is for those individuals who were involved in the confrontation with Bernard McGinley and other guests in Main Street, and who drove off, to make themselves available to police,” said the lead investigator in the case.

The PSNI are working with An Garda Síochána in bid to locate these inviduals, she continued: “We know who they are. It would be better for all concerned if they made themselves available to police as soon as possible so that we can build a complete picture of what happened yesterday and the background to those tragic events”.

Detective Chief Inspector Una Jennings concluded with this message for those involved in the tragic wedding day incident.
“I would appeal to those involved to think about what has happened and to think about the prospect of a life of constantly looking over their shoulder, fearing arrest or possible retribution. It would be so much better for them, and for all concerned, to come forward and make themselves available to police before any further bloodshed”.