Ouch! Olympic Season Brings Pain and Misfortune Again for Nancy Kerrigan

by Peter Stenson 

Stemming from the 1994 clubbing that was heard around the world, Nancy Kerrigan once again returns to the spotlight of misfortune – this time because her brother, Mark Kerrigan, allegedly assaulted their seventy-year-old Father, Daniel, which may have lead to Daniel’s death.

Mark Kerrigan, brother of Nancy Kerrigan, is escorted by a Woburn, MA police officer, after his arraignment in Court on Monday

Daniel Kerrigan was rushed to Winchester Hospital where he was pronounced dead on Sunday. The cause of death is still unknown. Depending on the autopsy results, the charges against Mark may increase from assault to homicide.

 According to the Stoneham police report read in court, the argument between father and son started over Mark’s desire to use the telephone. It quickly escalated, the report read, until “He [Mark] said he struggled with his father and put his hands around his father’s neck, and his father fell to the floor.”

 Mark was apprehended in the basement of his parent’s house. According to Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney, Elizabeth Keeley, Mark was “clearly intoxicated” and extremely combative.” The police used pepper spray to subdue Mark.

 Mark Kerrigan pleaded not guilty to charges of assault on Monday.

 The relationship between Mark and Daniel was strained at best. After a series of arrests and incarcerations for domestic abuse, Mark often argued with his father. According to Huffingtonpost.com, Daniel was in the process of suing his son to recover moneys that were spent to pay the mortgage of Mark’s home while he was in jail. Much of Mark’s recent difficulties, his lawyer argued in court on Monday, stem from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his time spent in the Army.  

 With the 2010 Winter Olympics a few weeks away, one cannot help but recall the misfortune and drama that enshrouded the ’94 Lillehammer games. Nancy Kerrigan, recovering from a clubbing to her knee by Tonya Harding’s ex-husband after the World Championships, skated her way to a silver medal in the Norway Olympics.

 Tonya Harding, who received a lifetime-ban for her involvement in the planning of the assault on Nancy, released a statement following the death of Daniel Kerrigan saying, “Tonya feels very sad for Nancy and her family and extends her deepest sympathy and condolences to them.”