Violent Richard Kearney was on temporary release when he attacked Fr Brian StarkenHe was one of three elderly people attacked in his home by pensioner killer Kearney
But Fr Brian Starken says he still questions how mental-health professionals treating the 42-year-old in prison didn’t foresee that Kearney would offend again prior to a decision to release him.
“I forgive the guy for what he did,” Fr Brian Starken said.
“You won’t forget it, but you can always forgive.
“That’s probably for me the most important part of letting go of it myself and not holding a grudge or whatever against the guy.”
Fr Brian was one of three elderly people attacked in their homes by pensioner-killer Kearney on March 15 last year during a spree of violence in west Dublin.
Last week Kearney was sentenced to eight years in prison for the attacks, and for the false imprisonment of his former prison chaplain in her home nine days earlier.
The violent criminal had previously been jailed for life in 2001 for beating 72-year-old Mary Dillon to death in her Finglas home in 1998 but was freed on temporary release after serving 21 years behind bars.
Fr Brian Starken was attacked by Kearney in his Dublin presbytery
Fr Brian, who had just returned from preparing for a funeral, answered and allowed Kearney, who appeared well-groomed, to enter as he didn’t appear to pose a threat.
Once inside, Kearney spoke to the priest of feeling depressed following his release after 20 years in prison.
He complained that he couldn’t get a job and said he missed the therapy he had been receiving while in custody.
Fr Brian said Kearney then got up as if to leave and he stood up in turn – only for Kearney’s demeanour to completely change as the killer suddenly attacked.
“In an instant he changed from being quite normal and having a normal conversation,” he said.
“When he stood up, I thought he wanted to go and I stood up, and in that second he attacked me.”
Using the arm of his jacket as a ligature, Kearney tried to strangle the priest as he held his other hand over his mouth.
“Somehow I got my hand inside the ligature,” Fr Brian said. “And I was able to shout out.”
85-year-old Fr Pat Coughlan, who was upstairs in the presbytery at the time, made his way down the stairs and attempted to go to his colleague’s assistance.
Richard Kearney during his trial for the 2001 murder of Mary Dillon
Kearney then dropped Fr Brian to the ground before running at Fr Coughlan, knocking him to the ground and causing him to break his hip.
He then fled, leaving a shaken Fr Brian, who had lost a tooth in the attack, to call 999.
Gardaí would later inform Fr Brian that Kearney had also attacked an 86-year-old woman in her home elsewhere in Clondalkin earlier that same day.
Fr Brian, who has since departed his role as co-parish priest in Bawnogue, said this week he is still receiving therapy as a result of the trauma Kearney inflicted on the day of the attack.
“I’m not too bad at this stage,” he said.
“I’m getting a little bit of therapy because it was quite a traumatic experience.
“I’m very lucky that Fr Pat was there as well, otherwise I’m not sure how it might have ended up.
“But I’m generally pretty OK and I’m on a bit of a break, so that’s nice, and I’ll take up another post in due course.”
Asked how Fr Pat is doing, Fr. Brian said his hip is still giving him trouble and he is walking with the aid of a walker.
“He’s in good enough form,” he said.
“He’s very keen to get back to Bawnogue if he can.”
Speaking of the circumstances of the attack, Fr Brian continued: “What he said to me, when I was talking to him that day, was that he had great support in the prison in terms of psychologists and psychiatrists.
“He said he didn’t have the access to those resources or people or whatever after he was released from prison.
“I suppose my question would be, if he was getting regular psychiatric treatment in the prison, would they not have noticed his behaviour … that he was liable to offend again given the opportunity?
“I wonder about that. I can’t answer it.
“When I gave my victim impact statement to the detective, I said: ‘Look, I forgive the guy for what he did.
“You won’t forget it, but you can always forgive.
“I forgive him.
“What that does for him, I’m not sure, but it does for me anyway.”
Asked if he believe the attack by Kearney was premeditated, the cleric replied: “I have wondered about that.
“Did the guy just attack me because he wanted to be sent back to prison because he was missing all the services?
“Was he institutionalised? I just don’t know, to be honest.”
Sentencing Kearney, Judge Martin Nolan said that “for reasons known only to himself, he approached these people, entered their property, attacked them, terrified them and falsely imprisoned them”.
The evidence was somewhat similar to the facts of the murder of Mary Dillon for which Kearney was convicted in 2001, the judge said.
He noted the victims were quite elderly and not in a position to resist or defend themselves.
He said they were greatly affected by the attacks.
Judge Nolan handed down an eight-year prison sentence, which he backdated to last March.
The court heard that the Parole Board will deal separately with him in relation to the fact he was on temporary release when he committed the offences.