A SMALL community in Co Donegal has been deeply saddened by the violent death of a well-known businessman on a golfing holiday in Portugal.
The badly beaten body of Paul Houston (51), president of Greencastle Golf Club, was found in the fishing village of Alvor in the Algarve at 5am on Sunday.
Police in Alvor are investigating the possibility he was set upon by two men as he made his way back to the accommodation he was sharing with his wife Celine, and another couple. It is understood the four were socialising together earlier in the evening.
Mr Houston was reported missing by his wife and friends when he failed to return to their accommodation.
Police were alerted to the incident by an anonymous call at about 5am.
Mr Houston’s body was found on a riverside walkway in Alvor and was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine at Portimao District Hospital for autopsy.
Anna Mourao, a spokeswoman from the special investigative police unit, the Polícia Judiciária, yesterday said: “At this point, we think that it may have been an attempted robbery. The man was beaten to death, but we do not know at this time if any weapons were used in the attack. We are waiting for the results of the autopsy.”
A local fisherman, Ernesto Marau, told a Portuguese newspaper that he was awoken by commotion on the street at about 4am that morning.
Gardaí in Buncrana confirmed they are providing assistance to the family and would liaise with Interpol on the ongoing investigation.
The Irish Embassy in Lisbon is also providing consular assistance to the family.
A father of four, Paul Houston was a much-loved member of the local community in Greencastle and Derry. He ran a designer shoe shop in Derry and was a long-time member of Greencastle Golf Club on the Inishowen peninsula.
He was the second generation owner of Houston’s shoe shop on Derry’s Strand Road. He moved with his family from Derry to nearby Greencastle several years ago and traditionally holidayed in Portugal with friends during early September.
Members of Mr Houston’s family were due to fly out to Portugal yesterday. The Houston family issued a statement through their solicitor yesterday.
“Paul was a very special person and his loss is devastating to our family, his many friends and the community in which he lived and served.”