Gardai in Limerick now believe that the barman, Mr Noel Pyper (48), Upper Henry Street, whose body was found in the laneway in the centre of the city on Tuesday morning, died from injuries received when he was kicked and punched in the head. Det Insp John Kerin, who is in charge of the crime office at Henry Street station, confirmed to The Irish Times that this was in accordance with the post-mortem examination by the Chief State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison.
No weapons were used in the assault. Important evidence which came to light yesterday was a videotape showing Mr Pyper leaving the Chicken Hut restaurant and walking out on to O'Connell Street at 12.40 a.m. This was eight hours before his body was found in nearby Lonergan's Lane, off Newenham Street.
A team of five specialists is examining more than 50 videotapes at Garda headquarters in Limerick. Det Insp Kerin said it took three to four hours to go through each videotape in detail. Stills were made of any frames of the film where the victim was identified.
Chief Supt Michael Fitzgerald, who is in charge of the investigation, said they were now seeking to hear from anyone who may have seen Mr Pyper after he left the restaurant. A confidential freephone (1800-537 878) has been set up for the purpose, or people can ring Garda headquarters in Limerick at 061-414222.
Det Insp Kerin said that Mr Pyper's clampdown on drug dealers using Noel's Bar where he worked in Catherine Street was only one of the possible motives for his death.
"Ninety per cent of the time it takes three to four days to focus on a particular motive. This time it looks as if it is going to take a lot longer." He added that 70 members of the force, including specialists from the forensic department in Dublin, were working on the case.
Relatives of Mr Pyper arrived in Limerick yesterday for the removal of the body from the Regional Hospital to Macroom, Co Cork. His son (24) and daughter (22) flew into Cork yesterday.