Gardaí identify ‘person of interest’ in Westmeath death inquiry

Postmortem examination due to take place on body of man named locally as Stefan Posschier

The house in Rattin near Miltownpass, Westmeath where the body of a man in his 60's was found in unexplained circumstances on Tuesday night. Photograph: Colin Keegan / Collins Dublin
The house in Rattin near Miltownpass, Westmeath where the body of a man in his 60's was found in unexplained circumstances on Tuesday night. Photograph: Colin Keegan / Collins Dublin

The death of a man in his 60s whose body was found in a home in Co Westmeath on Tuesday evening is currently being treated as suspicious by Garda investigators.

Gardaí investigating the death have identified a “person of interest” in their inquiries, Garda sources said.

The deceased was found dead in a home in Rattin, a rural area near Milltownpass, shortly after 6pm on Tuesday. He has been named locally as Stefan Posschier, who it is understood emigrated to Ireland from Belgium a number of years ago.

The man was known in the local area as a fortune-teller who read tarot cards.

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The Garda Technical Bureau carried out a technical examination at the home where the body was found to try and establish what may have happened. The body was removed from the scene earlier on Wednesday.

A Garda investigation was opened following the discovery of the body, with gardaí stating the man died in as of yet “unexplained circumstances”.

A postmortem examination of the body is due to take place, which will likely determine the course of the Garda inquiry.

One Garda source said investigating gardaí were currently treating the death of the man as “suspicious”, as they awaited the results of the postmortem.

Jack Power

Jack Power

Jack Power is acting Europe Correspondent of The Irish Times