A man was arrested by gardaí in Drogheda yesterday afternoon on suspicion of killing a local man whose body was found at the bottom of a flight of steps with severe neck injuries.
The victim was 38-year-old Mr Martin Murray, with an address at Palace Street, Drogheda. His body was found at the bottom of a flight of steps that lead to a number of first-floor apartments in Mill Court, Trinity Street.
An occupant of the complex alerted gardaí after finding the body at 7.30 a.m.. Sources close to the investigation confirmed there was a trail of blood from outside the door of one of the apartments on the first floor to the bottom of the steps.
Gardaí were yesterday investigating whether CCTV footage was available from business premises on Mill Lane. The entrance to Mill Court is off this lane.
Just before lunch-time a man went with gardaí to the Garda station to speak to them about the investigation. At 3 p.m. yesterday a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Garda Insp Vincent Rowan, Drogheda, has appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
"We would also ask anyone who saw anything suspicious in the Trinity Street, Georges Street and West Street area from late on Monday night up to 7.30 a.m. yesterday to contact us here on 041-9838777."
The body was removed to the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk where acting State pathologist Dr Richard Shepard carried out a post-mortem.
The entrance to Mill Court is across the laneway from the house which in February 2002 was the scene of a fire that claimed the lives of local couple Winifred Reilly (28) and Thomas Maguire (35). A Dundalk man is before the courts facing a charge of arson.