Ireland Case No. 6938Murder (suspected murder-suicide) · Co. Clare · 9 Nov 2023
Families thank community after suspected murder-suicide of Clare couple
Gardaí are treating the deaths of Claire Collins (51) and her husband Joe Collins (54) as a suspected murder-suicide. Their remains were found at their home at Crossard, Kilnaboy, Co Clare, on Thursday 9 November 2023, after a relative called emergency services; Claire was found in a bedroom and Joe in an outhouse. Gardaí believe Mrs Collins was asphyxiated, possibly smothered, and detectives believe her husband killed her before taking his own life, while gardaí say they are not seeking anyone else and no criminal charges will be brought. A file is being prepared for the Clare County Coroner for an inquest at a later date, and the latest development, reported on 14 December 2023, is a family notice thanking friends and neighbours ahead of a Month's Mind mass in Kilnaboy.
- Reported12 Nov
6 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Gardaí are treating the deaths of Claire Collins and Joe Collins as a suspected murder-suicide.
- Where
- The remains were found at the couple's home, a detached bungalow at Crossard, Kilnaboy, Co Clare.
- Claire Collins was found in a bedroom in the house, and Joe Collins was found in an outhouse connected to the property.
- When
- A relative called to the property and phoned emergency services, and the remains were discovered at about 2.30pm on Thursday 9 November 2023.
- Cause
- Gardaí believe Mrs Collins was asphyxiated, possibly smothered, and detectives believe her husband killed her before taking his own life.
- Investigators believe the motive may never be found.
- Weapon
- No weapon was recovered from the scene.
- Investigation
- Gardaí confirmed there was no third party involvement and say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths.
- Post-mortems were completed at University Hospital Limerick, but the results have not been released for operational reasons.
- Gardaí are trying to establish a motive, including whether Mr Collins had any mental or physical health issues, and have interviewed numerous people.
- Charges
- No criminal charges will be brought, so the evidence will not be aired in a criminal court.
- In court
- A Garda file is being prepared for the Clare County Coroner, who will fix a date for a public inquest that will not explore motives or decide culpability.
- Other details
- A joint funeral mass was held on Monday at St Brigid's Church in Corofin, followed by a cremation at Shannon Crematorium.
- The couple are survived by their daughters Sara and Tara and their grandson Rian.
- On 14 December 2023 the families published a notice thanking friends and neighbours ahead of a Month's Mind mass in Kilnaboy.
61 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí are treating the deaths of Claire and Joe Collins as a murder-suicide. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí are treating the deaths of Joe and Claire Collins as a suspected murder-suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatClaire Collins was found dead in the bedroom of the home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJoe Collins took his own life in an outhouse at the detached bungalow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMs Collins, aged 51, was found in a bedroom in the house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Collins, aged 54, was found in an outhouse connected to the property. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJoe Collins is believed to have killed his wife Claire. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple's remains were found at their home in Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereClaire Collins's body was found inside the bungalow, and her husband's remains were found outside it. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple's remains were found at their family home in the townland of Crossard, Kilnaboy, Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe deaths happened at the couple's home at Crossard, Kilnaboy. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe bodies of the couple were found at their home at Crossard, Kilnaboy. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple's home is in the townland of Crossard, in Kilnaboy, a rural village in north Co Clare. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe bodies were found at the couple's home at Crossard, Kilnaboy, Co Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe bodies were discovered at the family home on a Thursday afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe remains were discovered at about 2.30pm on Thursday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe deaths occurred on the Thursday before the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe joint funeral mass was held four days after the bodies were found. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenA relative called to the property on the afternoon of 9 November and phoned the emergency services at about 2.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe bodies were discovered on 9 November 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeInvestigators believe the motive may never be found. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe Mrs Collins was asphyxiated, possibly smothered, by her husband, who then took his own life. (irishtimes.com)
- causeJoe Collins is believed to have killed Claire Collins before taking his own life. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí are treating the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeClaire was found dead in the bedroom of the home. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeDetectives believe Mr Collins killed his wife before taking his own life. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe Irish Times understands Ms Collins was asphyxiated, likely by smothering, and that Mr Collins died by suicide. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponNo weapon was recovered from the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are treating the deaths as a murder-suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí confirmed the deaths were suspicious and there was no third party involvement. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are checking for any evidence of why the murder-suicide happened. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are satisfied no one else is involved and are preparing a file for the Coroner's Office with no prosecution. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPost-mortems have been carried out on both bodies, but the results are not being released. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact them. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí have not released the results of the postmortems for operational reasons. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí have confirmed they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe inquiry is focused on preparing a file for the coroner's court. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were expected to interview relatives and friends of the couple to determine a possible motive. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are trying to establish whether Mr Collins was suffering any mental or physical health issues. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA file will be prepared for the Clare County Coroner for an inquest at a later date. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda file will be prepared for the Clare County Coroner for an inquest. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí are treating the case as a murder-suicide. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationPostmortems were completed at University Hospital Limerick, but the results have not been released. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said they were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said their primary focus was preparing a file for the coroner's inquest. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNumerous people have been interviewed and statements taken. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí will present a file to the County Coroner, who will fix a date for the inquest. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBecause the case will never result in criminal charges, the evidence will never be aired in court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherFuneral arrangements have been made. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA caller to the property contacted emergency services, who sealed off the scene on arrival. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe couple are understood to have been dead for at least a matter of hours when the remains were discovered. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMrs Collins managed the Burren Visitor Centre in Kilfenora, and Mr Collins worked as a butcher in Ennis. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe funeral mass is due at 11am on Monday, followed by a cremation service at Shannon Crematorium at 2pm. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe parish priest asked for prayers for the couple and their families. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe funeral Mass was to take place at St Brigid's Church on Monday, followed by a cremation service at Shannon crematorium. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe couple are survived by their daughters, Sara and Tara, and their grandson, Rian. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe funeral mass was held at Saint Brigid’s Church in Corofin. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCoroner's inquests, which are public, will be held into the deaths but will not explore motives or decide culpability. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Dec2023Families of suspected Co Clare murder-suicide couple break silence on tragedy
Family notice and Garda update about the suspected murder-suicide. The article gives the Garda view that no one else is being sought, that no weapon was recovered, and that a file will go to the coroner for an inquest. It does not report any arrest or charge.
suspect, Joe Collins, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Collinsvictim, Claire Collins, 51, female, irish (judged from name)Claire Collins - 18 Nov2023‘It makes no sense’: Locals struggle to understand suspected murder-suicide that has shocked people of Clare
Adds the ages of the couple, the locations of the bodies, the family's call to emergency services, the Garda murder-suicide assessment, Irish Times reporting that Ms Collins was asphyxiated, the Garda statement that no one else is sought, and that no criminal charges will be brought.
victim, Claire Collins, 51, female, irish (judged from name)Claire Collinssuspect, Joe Collins, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Collins - 13 Nov2023Daughter of suspected murder-suicide couple says 'we miss you both'
Covers the funeral of the couple, including a poem read by their daughter Sara, and confirms gardaí are not looking for anyone else. A Garda file will go to the Clare County Coroner for an inquest. Adds that Claire was found dead in the bedroom and Joe took his own life in an outhouse.
victim, Claire Collins, 51, irish (judged from name)Claire Collinssuspect, Joe Collins, 54, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Collins - 12 Nov2023Village 'traumatised' and 'no understanding of suspected murder-suicide
Community reaction piece from Sunday mass in Corofin, including the parish priest's comments. It adds the funeral arrangements, the family details, and that gardaí are not seeking anyone else. No new arrests or charges are reported.
victim, Claire Collins, 51, female, irish (judged from name)Claire Collinssuspect, Joe Collins, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Collins - 12 Nov2023Death of couple in Co Clare investigated as murder-suicide
Adds that the remains were found on Thursday afternoon after a caller contacted emergency services, that gardaí believe Mrs Collins was asphyxiated, that the inquiry is preparing a file for the coroner, and background on the couple's jobs, the funeral arrangements and the investigation into a possible motive.
victim, 51, female, irish (judged from name)suspect, Joe Collins, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Collins - 12 Nov2023'Murder-suicide' motive a mystery as investigators fear they may never know why
Adds that gardaí are satisfied no one else was involved, that a file is being prepared for the Coroner's Office with no prosecution, that the motive may never be known, that post-mortems have been carried out with results withheld, and that funeral arrangements have been made.
victim, Claire Collins, 51, female, irish (judged from name)Claire Collinssuspect, Joe Collins, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joe Collins