The small Burren village of Belharbour in Co Clare was yesterday in mourning over the violent death of a local man, Mr Jack Daly.
A small farmer, Mr Daly (82) lived with his sister, Ms Kathleen McInerney (83) in a one-storey thatched white cottage in the village near the Clare-Galway border.
Mr Daly's bludgeoned body was discovered in his bedroom before 7a.m. yesterday morning,.
Supt Seán Corcoran of Ennistymon Garda station said Mr Daly died as a result of a "savage attack" while he was in bed. He suffered blows to the head and body. A hatchet with blood on it was recovered from the scene.
Gardaí were called to the house at 7 a.m. following a phone call saying that there was a serious incident at the Daly home. Supt Corcoran said a man was arrested within half an hour at a neighbour's house. He was taken to Ennistymon Garda station where he was being questioned.
Yesterday evening, Mr Daly's body was removed to the Galway Regional Hospital where the Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, was expected to perform a post mortem.
The parish priest, Father Enda Glynn, said yesterday: "The area is heartbroken. It is a great tragedy for the area. Jack was a very, very nice man and there is great sympathy in the area for everyone concerned."
Father Glynn added: "Their home had old worldly values. They have a beautiful old-style kitchen and I always said that anytime you went in there you felt close to God."He said Mr Daly was due to celebrate his 83rd birthday early next month.
"Belharbour is a beautiful area and nothing like this has ever happened here," he added.
Mr Daly lived opposite Belharbour post office and yesterday the local postmistress, Ms Rena Linnane, said: "The whole community is in shock. Jack was a nice, quiet, gentle man and was very hard-working."
Ms Linnane said she grew up with him and that he was a talented musician and was a member of the Belharbour Céilí Band.
