Stabbing murder suspect 'overwhelmed by darkness', mourners told
The only suspect in a horrific murder-suicide that left two people dead had become overwhelmed by darkness, mourners at his funeral Mass heard today.
Hundreds of people packed the Church of the Assumption in Dalkey south Co Dublin to remember Shane Clancy, described as a kind and caring brother devoted to charity.
Detectives believe the 22-year-old stabbed Sebastian Creane to death and seriously injured Mr Creane’s older brother Dylan and friend Jennifer Hannigan in a frenzied attack last Sunday, before turning the knife on himself.
Fr John McDonagh, parish priest, said the community was stunned by the devastating events, which he claimed were out of character for Mr Clancy.
“Understandably we are greatly shocked by the psychotic state and destructive frenzy into which his mind suddenly entered so uncharacteristically it would seem,” he said.
Fr McDonagh also prayed for Mr Creane, 22, whom he described as Mr Clancy’s innocent victim.
“So now, gathered here, we ask the Lord of life to set Shane free from the darkness which overwhelmed him last weekend,” the parish priest said.
It is believed the stabbings may have been sparked by Mr Clancy’s jealousy over a relationship between Ms Hannigan, Shane’s ex-girlfriend, and Mr Creane.
The vicious attack was carried out at Mr Creane’s house in the middle class Cuala Grove area of Bray in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Fr McDonagh said people found it hard to believe that Mr Clancy could be linked to the horrific tragedy which unfolded at the home.
He said only a few gifted people whose job it was to make sense of such behaviour would understand what has mystified everyone else.
“A young man held in such high regard among you that last Sunday’s awful news was, and is, incredible to you, so very hard, if not impossible, to understand and come to terms with,” Fr McDonagh said.
The parish priest said Mr Clancy was in fourth year at Trinity College, studying Theology and Irish, for which he had a deep love.
One prayer during the funeral was recited in Irish reflecting his passion for the language.
“Everyone seemed to recognise his great enthusiasm for the Irish language and culture. A young man clearly enjoying the opportunity Trinity College afforded to him,” Fr McDonagh said.
Mr Clancy was described as a devoted man of charity, who had volunteered to take part in a St Vincent de Paul summer camp, volunteered in charity shops and had planned to travel to Calcutta to do aid work but later pulled out.
Marking his charitable manner his family asked for donations to be given to St Vincent de Paul instead of flowers.
“Everyone I spoke to who knew him referred to his commitment to charity ventures and causes,” Fr McDonagh said.
Mr Clancy’s father Patrick recited well-known funeral poem 'Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep' during the service.
The alarm was raised after a seriously injured Ms Hannigan managed to crawl into the neighbour’s garden.
When gardaí arrived they initially believed the attacker had fled on foot but after two hours searching the area officers discovered Mr Clancy’s bloodied body in the back garden.
Drugs were not a factor and detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the stabbings.
Mr Clancy is survived by his parents Leonie and Patrick, step-father Tony, and had four brothers Liam, Jake, Jack, Henry and two sisters Lucy and Holly.
He was buried in Shanganagh Cemetery.
