Death of man (36) in north Cork treated as foul play

The death of a 36-year-old man whose injured body was found in a rented house in north Cork on Saturday is being treated as foul play by Gardaí .

The body of Peter Murphy was found in his rented cottage at Shanavoher between Bweeng and Dromahane some 10kms from Mallow at around 1.20pm on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Murphy’s body was found on the floor of the sitting room by his landlord who was contacted by a neighbour who noticed a glass pane in the door was broken.

The gardaí were called and Mr Murphy, originally from Shinnick Place in Castletownroche in Cork, was pronounced dead at the scene by a GP.

Mr Murphy's body was taken to Cork University Hospital where Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, conducted a post-mortem on Sunday.

Gardaí are not disclosing the results of the post-mortem for operational reasons but said the findings confirmed that his injuries were not self-inflicted.

The Irish Times understands that Mr Murphy had a fractured skull, a punctured lung and broken rib, consistent with having been assaulted.

Gardaí believe that Mr Murphy may have been dead for 12 hours or longer when he was found on Saturday.

Mr Murphy’s rented home remained sealed off on Monday as Garda technical experts continued with a forensic examination which is expected to last a number of days.

Detectives carried out door-to-door inquiries in the neighbourhood which is about 1km off the main Bweeng to Dromahane road outside Mallow.

Officers are checking CCTV footage from a number of houses in the area.

Meanwhile gardaí are trying to trace Mr Murphy’s last known movements and confirmed that he was alive at 4pm on Thursday after they established he phoned his mother.

They have appealed to anyone who may have seen Mr Murphy or heard from him between 4pm on Thursday and 1.20pm on Saturday to contact them at Mallow Garda station.

They have also appealed to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the Shanavoher area of Bweeng to contact them at Mallow on 022-31450.

Mr Murphy, who is survived by his parents Denis and Maria and by his brothers Fergal and Adrian and sister Tara, had been living at the house for a year.

Mr Murphy, who previously lived in Rockchapel, worked as a car mechanic and also repaired lawnmowers and chain saws which he sold on.