Gardaí open murder investigation

Gardaí in Co Roscommon have launched a murder investigation following confirmation that a man whose body was found in the garden of his home in the village of Ballinlough had been assaulted.

A postmortem carried out by State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy confirmed that 46-year-old Thomas Cunningham died from injuries sustained in an assault.

While details of the findings were not being released, it is understood that Mr Cunningham suffered injuries to his face and neck. He had been living with his elderly parents and his teenage son in a detached house on the Castlerea side of the village close to the local Catholic church on the outskirts of the village for the past six years.

An 18-year-old man who was arrested following the discovery of the body on Thursday morning was questioned throughout yesterday at Roscommon Garda station.

Supt Seán Ward of Castlerea station, who is leading the investigation, said gardaí were anxious to talk to anyone who had seen anything suspicious in the Ballinlough area between 5pm on Wednesday and 9am on Thursday.

The alarm was raised on Thursday morning when Mr Cunningham's body was found lying inside the front wall in the garden of the cottage in the quiet west Roscommon village, some five miles from Castlerea.

Mr Cunningham had moved from England to Ballinlough six years ago to care for his parents, who had themselves spent many years living in Britain.

The dead man's father, Bernard, is a native of Ballinlough and he and his wife had retired to the small village.

Their son, who was born in England, had been looking after them full-time since moving to Ballinlough. Residents of Ballinlough were reluctant to speak about the death yesterday .

Local auctioneer Pat Moylan, a former independent member of Roscommon County Council, said the community was shocked at the circumstances of Mr Cunningham's death.

"Everyone is very concerned about the family and very upset for them," said Mr Moylan. "They are a very quiet, decent family and everyone is very sorry for them".

Local Fine Gael councillor Michael McGreal, who knows the Cunningham family, said the family was well known and respected locally. "They are very quiet, private people and everyone feels upset for them," he said.

Gardaí have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the village in an effort to determine Mr Cunningham's last movements. Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at Castlerea station, telephone 094-9620019.