Man expected in court over death following fatal assault

A MAN in his twenties is expected to appear before a special court sitting today in connection with the death of a man following an assault in Longford town.

A woman who had been detained was released last night and a file has been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Noel Keegan was walking from his home to meet friends for a drink at around 9.45pm on New Year’s Eve when he was involved in an altercation with two people.

The 59-year-old, who is believed to have suffered several blows, was treated at the scene but died a short time later.

It is understood Mr Keegan, a father of three, suffered from an underlying heart condition.

A man and a woman, both in their early twenties, were arrested at the scene.

The woman and man were being questioned at Longford Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

A postmortem was carried out by Asst State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis at Midland Regional Hospital.

Longford Town mayor Brendan Gilmore said the area was shocked. “He was a very nice man, he just kept to himself.”