The death has occurred of a priest who strongly condemned the notorious attack on businessman Kevin Lunney.
Fr. Oliver O’Reilly, formerly of Cloncose, Cornafean, Co Cavan, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026, in the care of his family and staff at Connolly Hospital and St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown.
A well-known cleric in the Diocese of Kilmore, Fr O’Reilly served communities in Killeshandra and Arva and was widely respected for his pastoral work and willingness to address difficult issues affecting the border region.
He came to wider public attention in 2019 following the brutal attack on Kevin Lunney, a senior executive with Quinn Industrial Holdings, who was abducted and assaulted.
Speaking at Mass in Ballyconnell in the aftermath of the incident, Fr O’Reilly described the attack as a “senseless atrocity” and warned there was an “obvious cancer of evil in our midst”.
He told parishioners : “I now believe there has been a Mafia-style group with its own Godfather operating in our region for some time behind the scenes,” he told congregants.
“They have decided to ratchet up the intimidation. The Rubicon has now been crossed by this most recent barbaric assault.”
He added that “peace-loving, law-abiding people” were being “held to ransom by a few unscrupulous individuals who are hugely dangerous”.
The remarks prompted a strong response from businessman Sean Quinn, who later confronted the priest over the claims.
“I said, ‘Father, you’re wrong – wrong – and you’ve done me and my family an awful lot of damage. I want to know how you came up with this or where you came out of,’” Mr Quinn said at the time.
Fr O’Reilly remained a prominent and active figure in church life across Cavan and the wider Border area in the years that followed.
Reposing at Lakelands Funeral Home, Cavan, on Monday from 5.30pm until 9pm, his remains will be removed on Tuesday morning to the Sacred Heart Church, Arva, for 12 noon Requiem Mass, followed by burial in the family plot at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Coronea.