Murdered Donegal man was cousin of tragic murder-suicide mother of two
The PSNI said Kyle, from Burt in Donegal, was killed at Ballymagorry in Strabane, Co Tyrone, and a man, also 24, was arrested
A Donegal man murdered in Tyrone two days ago was a cousin of a murder-suicide victim whose husband killed her and their children.
The murder of Kyle McDermott (24) on Monday following an alleged assault by another man, also 24, is the fourth in his family.
The PSNI said Kyle, from Burt in Donegal, was killed at Ballymagorry in Strabane, Co Tyrone, and a man, also 24, was arrested.
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Kyle’s cousin was mother-of-two murder victim Ciara O’Brien (26) whose husband Adrian Dunne killed her, their daughters Lean and Shania, and himself at their home in Mongeer, Wexford, in April 2007.
Kyle’s girlfriend Chloe McGonagle, from Inishowen in Donegal, witnessed his death this week – which tragically occurred several years after her dad was killed in a car crash.
Loved ones of Kyle, Ciara, and Chloe are today reeling in shock from the latest death, a family member told the Irish Mirror.
He said: “Kyle’s father Stephen and Ciara’s mother Marian are brother and sister.
“It is another terrible tragedy. Four murders in the one family is just unbelievable. It’s absolutely awful, unspeakable.
“And also Chloe’s dad died tragically when she was very young. He lost his life in a car accident.
“Chloe had a house in Ballymagorry and that’s why they were living there.”
Kyle worked in the construction industry as a digger driver and regularly shared clips of his work on TikTok.
Family and friends have been comforting Kyle’s heartbroken partner Chloe, his mother Claire, father Stephen, sister Stephanie and brothers Arden and Sheehan.
His aunt Marian, who is Ciara’s mother, revealed in 2011 that she and her husband PJ learned of the murder-suicide tragedy on RTE’s news teletext service.
She said in book Flesh and Blood that she saw the headline and prayed: “Please, God, don’t let it be them.
Kyle’s uncle PJ formerly managed the Donegal hurling team.
PSNI Det Insp Hazel Miller said that Kyle died "following an altercation".
Police were called at 11.30pm on Sunday and the Ambulance Service was called at 12.05am on Monday and Kyle was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry where he died in the early hours of Monday morning.
Det Insp Miller said: “A young man’s life has been cut short, and a loving family are now left trying to come to terms with their grief.
“My thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”
She added: “Our investigation is still in the early stages. I want to take this opportunity to appeal for anyone with information to come forward."
Kyle’s cousin Jason Barr told the Irish Mirror: “Funeral details are not yet known because Kyle’s body has not yet been released from the morgue.
“If the remains are released, the funeral could be Friday at the earliest.”
Jason, who is an Independent Cllr in Strabane, added: “The family is devastated beyond words. The family home in Burt will remain strictly private to family only during the wake.
“The funeral is open to anyone wanting to pay their respects.”
Jason paid tribute online to his cousin and wrote: “Kyle Mc Dermott, Forever 24. A smile that will never be seen again. Kyle didn’t deserve this.”
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