Gardaí have begun a murder investigation after a violent attack on Monday resulted in the death of a father of six in Tralee, Co Kerry.
Mr Michael Faulkner (43), an unemployed man living in Mitchell's Crescent, died in Tralee General Hospital early yesterday morning. Gardaí were called to the scene at around 11.40 p.m. on Monday by a witness who saw Mr Faulkner being attacked at the entrance to the road leading to his home.
Mr Faulkner was found lying yards from his home. Gardaí are investigating suggestions that the attackers had slash hooks, knives and other weapons.
Three men, all in their 20s, were arrested early yesterday morning, within hours of the attack. Two of the three were released last night.
Yesterday, the scene of the attack was sealed off and covered with black plastic sheeting. A number of houses in Mitchell's Crescent are boarded up and some are sealed with steel plates.
A number of Mr Faulkner's relations live in Mitchell's Crescent. Residents who gathered in groups yesterday at the scene declined to speak to reporters, many of them saying they were too upset to do so.
Mr Faulkner is survived by his children and wife, his father, Michael, and mother, Mary. Insp Martin McCarthy of Tralee Garda station, who is leading the murder investigation, said a van had been seized and was being examined by a Garda forensics team.
Insp McCarthy said that while the investigation would look at whether there might be a connection with other violent incidents recently, gardaí were keeping an open mind about speculation in some quarters about an ongoing feud. One of the three men detained for questioning yesterday was arrested in Killarney.
The men were held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act in Tralee Garda station. Steady progress was being made in the investigation, Insp McCarthy said. A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Margaret Bolster, Assistant State Pathologist.