GARDAI in Co Kerry discovered the body of a man in a 15 foot well in his farmyard outside Kilcummin, near Killarney, yesterday afternoon. Detectives believe he was murdered.
The body, which has yet to be formally identified, is believed to be that of an elderly farmer who had been missing for six days.
Mr Patrick Daly (69), a farmer who was living alone near Dooneen about six miles from Killarney, was reported missing over the weekend. He was last seen on Thursday.
The discovery was made shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday. Gardai discovered the body in a well near Mr Daly's home as they searched the rural area.
It is understood that the body which was covered with water, was in the well for a number of days. It was covered with sheets of black plastic, the type used in farm yards according to gardai.
Robbery has been ruled out as a motive for the killing.
"The man's body was discovered in the bottom of the well when gardai were carrying out a search of the land around Mr Daly's home", Supt Mick O'Neill said yesterday.
Gardai immediately sealed off the area around the well. Forensic experts are to travel to the area today to assist local gardai.
The body will not be removed until the Assistant State Pathologist, Ms Margaret Bolster, travels to the scene later today.
A post mortem will then be carried out.
Mr Daly, a tall thin man, was wearing a wax jacket, trousers, a cap and wellington boots at the time.
After he was reported missing, gardai put out an appeal for information about the missing farmer.
A search of the land around Mr Daly's home on Sunday failed to find any trace of him.
Shocked neighbours gathered at the scene yesterday as news of the tragedy broke. Mr Daly was described as a quiet man who kept very much to himself.