FORGET all about who shot JR. The burning question of the day in Kerry is all about who shot JHR?
The Healy-Rae political dynasty is up in arms after one of their election posters was apparently riddled with a shotgun blast.
The shock discovery of the pock-marked poster of Johnny Healy-Rae was made on a rural roadway after a loud bang was heard in the stillness of Tuesday night.
Johnny’s uncle, Michael Healy-Rae, said the sinister incident occurred at Kenneigh Cross, on the main road between Waterville and Cahirciveen, at approximately 9.50pm.
He has appealed to anybody that may have noticed any suspicious activity in the area to come forward with information.
A formal complaint has been made by the political family to gardaí and officers from the Cahirciveen area are investigating.
It is understood that newly installed CCTV footage from a nearby premises is being scrutinised in an attempt to identify the culprits and a local man, who said he heard the gunshot, has been able to provide useful information to gardaí.
The smiling head of Johnny – the youngest of the Healy-Raes seeking election to Kerry County Council – was almost ripped to shreds in the incident with pellet holes appearing in the middle of his forehead, on his chin and just over his left ear.
“It’s pure blackguarding because election posters are very expensive,” Michael Healy-Rae told KillarneyToday.com.
“It’s fine for the political parities who buy all their posters in bulk but independents like Johnny have to dig deep into their own pockets for the posters and the stakes that they are placed on,” he said.
It’s not the first time in this election campaign that the Healy-Rae posters have been targeted as seven of Johnny’s billboards went missing last week and his father Danny, who is a candidate in Killarney, also had a number of his posters removed or defaced.
