Gardaí in Limerick have upgraded the death of a 59-year- old bachelor in the village of Croom over the weekend to a full murder investigation, after the results of a postmortem showed he had died as a result of a violent assault.
The man, named last night by gardaí as Liam O'Donovan, was stabbed to death outside his home at St Senan's Terrace some time on Saturday morning.
His body was discovered at 7.30am on Saturday on the footpath outside his home .
Initial reports suggested he was awakened by the sound of somebody trying to steal his car, though Garda said yesterday someone was trying to gain entry to the house.
It is believed Mr O'Donovan, who was still in his bed attire, went outside to confront the individual and was subjected to a violent assault. It is believed he died as a result of a stab wound to his chest.
A full-scale murder investigation was subsequently launched. Gardaí are particularly anxious to locate the weapon used in the killing.
Supert Joe Roe, who is leading the investigation, said for "operational reasons" he could not confirm the exact cause of death but revealed that Mr O'Donovan had been subjected to a "very violent assault".
"We would be anxious to stress that this was a most heinous crime carried out on one of the most popular members of the community," he said.
Locals yesterday described their shock at the murder of Mr O'Donovan, who lived with his mother until she died last year. He had been out socialising with his brother Vincent on the night before his death.
The deceased was heavily involved in the local sporting community, and was known for his work with the elderly.
Local parish priest Fr Eamonn O'Brien said prayers at Mass in the parish for the deceased man over the weekend.
"The last time I met Liam was at Mass on Friday evening and the following morning I was anointing him at the road side," Fr O'Brien said. "It's just so shocking. He was such a quiet, unassuming man. He was due to referee a match and [on Saturday] night he was due to bring a candle up in Mass in memory of his mother whom he cared for until her death last year."
The deceased man is survived by his brother and two sisters. Funeral arrangements are expected to be made later today.
Gardaí have asked anybody who was in the St Senan's Terrace area of Croom between 1.30am and 8am on Saturday and who may have witnessed any suspicious activity to contact them at 061-601630.