Troubled dad Wayne was caught with over €15,000 in stolen cash at a Limerick hotel
Vigil at Lindisfarne Grove, Clondalkin this evening. (Image: Collins Photos)
Hundreds of people gathered to remember murdered child Oisin Reddin at an emotional vigil in Clondalkin, west Dublin on Sunday evening.
Devastated family members and friends of the 12 year old boy, who gardai believe was murdered by his father Wayne last week, gathered outside his grandfather’s home to release balloons in his honour. It comes as it’s now emerged that Wayne O’Reilly (48), who took his own life after murdering his child, had also previously threatened to kill Oisin back in October of last year.
Troubled dad Wayne was caught with over €15,000 in stolen cash at a Limerick hotel – after going missing with Oisin in a shocking incident that month. During the course of the ordeal it was alleged that Wayne, who had custody of the child, had threatened to murder him.
Following the seizure of the cash, which is suspected to have been stolen from a west Dublin crime gang, Wayne continued to have custody of Oisin – but a battle began to have that taken off of him. Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, were also involved with the family by this point – as fears continued about Wayne’s mental health and custody of the child. Last Thursday Oisin was tragically found dead at a house in Lealand in Clondalkin, having died by asphyxiation.
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Gardai made the grim discovery having earlier that morning been alerted to Wayne’s body in an outhouse at the back of another property in Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot. Last week a devastated family member of young Oisin said that Tusla had “failed” the little boy.
“Wayne met another girl and had a baby with her and it was a new relationship. I feel he wanted to push Oisin away,” they added.
Speaking about the little boy, the family member told how he had recently started in Talbot Senior National School – and that he had suffered much difficulty in his life – including a rare illness. “He was only new to the school. He was born with a rare type of epilepsy,” they said.
Paying tribute to him they added: “He was such a bright little fella and would do anything for you. He palled around with my daughter and he was so kind towards her. It’s so shocking what has happened to him. We’re all lost.”
Asked to comment on the family member’s claims that it failed Oisin, Tusla declined to go beyond a prepared statement that it released on Thursday. “We will keep you informed if or when a new statement is issued,” a spokesperson stated, before referring to the earlier statement which acknowledged that the agency knew of the family.
“The death of a child is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family, all those who knew him, and the local community at this difficult time,” the statement reads
“This young boy was not in the care of the state, however he and his family were known to Tusla. We continue to engage with An Garda Síochána as they conduct their investigation, and it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Scoil Talbot SNS declined to comment when contacted and referred this paper to the Department of Education. The Department has stated that teams from the National Educational and Psychological services were on the ground on Thursday supporting staff and the school community, and that the work would continue on Friday.
Wayne O’Reilly (48) and his son, Oisin Reddin (12)(Image: An Garda Síochána)
It comes as a pal of the late Mr O’Reilly had told this paper that he was shocked by what had happened – and revealed how the father had been struggling in recent times with his mental health. “He was a good friend. I have known him for more than 20 years. We are all shocked and devastated by what has happened. I last spoke to him about two weeks ago. He was in good form. He absolutely doted on (the little boy).”
He also said the father was a talented mechanic and also sold cars. And he told us that the father’s mental health had gone downhill in recent years. He added: “He was very popular and none of his friends saw this coming at all. Everyone is shocked. Nobody can believe what happened.”
Local Clondalkin based councillor Francis Timmons spoke of the devastation within the community – and how young friends of the child were struggling to deal with his loss. “Bawnogue and the wider Clondalkin community are in shock and disbelief to learn of two tragic deaths. My heart and thoughts go out to the families and friends devastated by such an appalling loss. The whole community joins in grief of such unexpected loss. My thoughts are also with the child’s school friends who are in shock and upset by their school friend’s death,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ballyfermot based Councillor Daithi Doolan stated on social media: “Heartbreaking news from Clondalkin and Cherry Orchard. This is so very sad. Deepest sympathy to the family and friends. You are in our thoughts at this tragic time,” he said.
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