Tipperary chef lovingly remembered at hometown funeral as ‘a role model to us all’

Shaun Paul Brady, the Tipperary chef who was murdered in the US last August, was finally laid to rest in Nenagh on Saturday, January 6.

The 44-year-old was shot dead in an altercation outside his restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday, August 28.

Mr Brady was reportedly targeted as he intervened in a suspected robbery in a parking lot.

At his funeral Mass on Saturday, the priest began by saying: “Shaun Paul was a man of remarkable generosity, courage and devotion. Especially to his family, friends and neighbours. This Mass is a time to remember and honour the many ways Shaun Paul touched so many lives with his kindness, his passion for cooking and his unwavering commitment to those he held dear.”
A presentation of symbols representing elements of Shaun Paul’s life was then brought to the altar. First, Odrhan brought up Shaun Paul’s Tipperary jersey representing his pride for his county, hometown and Irish heritage; next David brought up a Kansas City shirt, representing Shaun Paul’s love for his American home; Adam brought up his trademark cap; finally, Fay brought his chef’s uniform to the altar, representing his love of cooking.

Following a reflection from Shaun Paul’s sister Vivian, his brother Damien delivered a eulogy that summed up Shaun Paul’s life and good character: “Shaun Paul was a loving husband to Katie, a doting father to Seamus and Mary, a cherished son to our mother Mary. Although Shaun Paul was the middle child in our family, he was our big brother, always there to support us when we needed him. He was a funny uncle to all of his nieces and nephews and a dear friend to so many.

“Shaun Paul led a full life, he relentlessly pursued his passion to become the talented chef he was. He knew from such a young age that this was his vocation. He wanted to do home ec in school so he fought to get into the girls’ secondary school home economics classes. He would leave the Brothers a few classes a week to go to an all-girls school and do a class that was typically not taught to boys. Shaun Paul was in his element. To be that age and to know that cheffing was going to be his career and to be brave enough and stubborn enough to follow it and not be told no, Shaun Paul had the drive and a determination to succeed. A role model to us all.

“Shaun Paul had a great sense of humour. He loved joking, having a laugh and getting up to a bit of mischief.

“Shaun Paul had built a wonderful life for himself and his family in Kansas. He worked tirelessly to establish and run his own restaurant and become a treasured part of the community. Something we witnessed ourselves when the local community came together to grieve his death.

“Shaun Paul was so proud to call Nenagh his home, when we’d visit his restaurant in Kansas, the walls were decorated with paintings of local landmarks like the castle, the church and an old painting taken from a book in mam’s house in Summerhill. He never forgot where he came from.

“Shaun Paul will be greatly missed by so many, we are all heartbroken by his loss but he has left us with so many precious memories. I’ll miss the video calls on a Sunday, when I wouldn’t be able to get a word in edge-ways, he’d be more interested in laughing and joking with the kids.

“We grieve all the stolen chances to make new memories with Shaun Paul but we will treasure the ones that we are lucky enough to have.”

Shaun Paul Brady leaves behind his wife Katie, children Seamus and Mary, mother Mary and siblings Vivian, Sandra and Damien as well as a host of extended family and friends both here in Ireland and in the US.

In December, the Kansas City Star reported that in a surprise twist in the killing of Brookside chef Shaun Brady, the Jackson County Family Court has dropped all charges against one of two teens arrested in August in the shooting death of the popular Irish restaurant owner.

The teen, who spent three months in juvenile custody, was released without public notice.

Earlier this month, the release of L.M., whose full name is not spelled out in public court documents because he was charged in juvenile court, was confirmed by his defense attorney, Matthew Merryman.

A spokesman for the Kansas City Family Court, Scott Lauck, confirmed to The Star that the charges against L.M had been dropped. L.M. had been charged with second-degree murder, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and armed criminal action.
A second teen, a 15-year-old identified as K.H. is similarly charged.