The Surreal Life

The world is a crazy place. This is what we're dealing with right now in my family, and this article in the NJ newspaper does the story absolutely NO justice. The crazy amount of grief that this is causing my loved ones is out of control, and I really don't want to get into it all on the internet. Just know that the media, and the world can be royally fucked up sometimes. I dunno...maybe I just have an insane family but, well, the Irish who come from the east coast a little messed up, haha. At any rate, if you say prayers, I'd appreciate them. <3

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2009/02/update_nothing_criminal_before.html

UPDATE: Nothing criminal before Healy pal's collapse at bar, cops say
by Agustin Torres/The Jersey Journal
Friday February 20, 2009, 10:13 PM



The Astor Bar on Montgomery Street in Jersey City was the scene of a possible fight Sunday morning that left an aide to Mayor Jerramiah Healy hospitalized.

Jersey City police have been unable to confirm that any type of criminal activity was responsible for the hospitalization of a city employee who is listed in "serious condition" following an early Sunday morning altercation in the Astor Bar and Grill.

John Reilly, a friend of Mayor Jerramiah Healy, is identified as the person who at 1:04 a.m. was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center. Reilly was once an aide to Healy when the mayor was a councilman and he is presently a liaison between City Hall and the city's autonomous agencies.

Police Chief Thomas Comey told The Jersey Journal that he had been briefed by the Police Department's Major Case Unit, which investigated the incident following anonymous tips.

"We have identified the patrons in the location and interviewed the majority of them regarding their observations prior to Mr. Reilly's taking ill," said Reilly.

"We also interviewed medical personnel since his admission to the Medical Center. The interviews revealed that Mr. Reilly was in a heated verbal altercation with another patron several minutes before he collapsed. The argument in question was verbal, with both men making gestures toward one another, but it did not escalate to a physical confrontation between the two of them at any time."

Sources have told The Jersey Journal that the other person involved in the Astor Bar incident is also a municipal employee. It has not been revealed what the argument was about. The McGinley Square bar is a popular watering hole for city workers and members of the administration.

Comey added that witnesses confirmed that both men had been separated to opposite ends of the bar and that several minutes later Reilly collapsed and EMTs were called.

According to witnesses, the two men never came to blows, said the chief. He said that medical personnel found no physical trauma on Reilly.

"I have consulted personally with the Hudson County prosecutor throughout the day regarding this investigation and its progress, and we are unable to confirm any type of criminal activity whatsoever that was the causation of Mr. Reilly's condition," said Comey.

The chief does urge anyone who was not identified or already contacted in the investigation to come forward. The police tip line is (201) 547-JAIL.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with John Reilly right now and with his family. We hope that he overcomes this illness and makes a full recovery," said Comey.