Deirdre O Meara An investigation into a murder has been launched in Boston after an Irishman was assaulted outside an ATM on St Patrick’s Day. Barry Whelan, aged 46 and originally from Dublin, had been living in Woburn, a nearby town, and was working as a carpenter with Twin Peaks Construction in the Boston suburb of Foxborough.
According to police, Mr Whelan had been standing near a TD bank branch ATM on Winter Street in Downtown Crossing when he received a blow to the head. Passersby reported Mr Whelan lying face up at around 9pm on March 17th, with an abrasion on the back of his head, and he was rushed to Tufts Medical Centre. Mr Whelan was placed on life-support but he passed away last Friday.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as ‘blunt force trauma’ and have classified it as a homicide. Mr Whelan is survived by his mother Valerie, who still lives in Dublin, and an older brother, Darren, who lives in Spain.
John Marsoobian, co-owner of Twin Peaks Construction, spoke to Boston 25 News about Mr Whelan. He said he had worked at the company as a carpenter for the last two years and had been looking forward to celebrating St Patrick’s Day with a Guinness. When he failed to turn up to work, Mr Marsoobian eventually found out Mr Whelan was in critical condition in hospital and that his prognosis was not good. He then helped the police locate Mr Whelan’s family in Dublin and Spain.
Speaking of Mr Whelan, Mr Marsoobian said: “He was patient. He was hardworking. He worked six days a week. He paid his taxes and he never complained about anything. He would give you the shirt off his back. That’s what Barry was, a gentle soul. We will help [his] brother and their mom for as much as we need to help them through this and even after.”
A police spokesperson said that surveillance video is being reviewed as part of the investigation into Mr Whelan’s death and that no arrests have been made yet, with a motive still under investigation.
