Chai Brady
Cameron O'Reilly Hundreds of people attended a candlelit vigil this week after the body of an 18-year-old, described as a “kind young man” by the parish priest, was found in a field in Louth.
Fr Michael Murtagh, PP of Dunleer parish, said he saw Cameron almost every day, and that he was “a delightful kid to meet and a delightful kid to watch grow up”.
The priest, who has spent 12 years in the parish, said: “He was a very quiet, shy, respectful kid, always out playing, lots of friends. I’ve seen him go through primary and secondary school and now on to first year in college.
The community are said to be “devastated” with Fr Murtagh saying “people are crying openly” in Beechwood, the estate where the family come from.
A post-mortem report confirmed the teenager was killed in violent circumstances, with there being a possibility of strangulation.
About 800 people attended the vigil in St Brigid’s Church in Dunleer on Monday, and 18 candles were laid out to represent the 18 years of Cameron’s life.
Mr Reilly’s body was found on agricultural land off the Ardee Road.
Gardai have been “appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, between 4pm on Friday and 8.30am on Saturday morning” including taxi drivers, bus drivers or anyone with dashcam footage.