A man was being questioned in Cavan last night by gardai investigating the killing of Mr Jeffrey Leigh, the Welshman found dead at his home near Mountnugent on Sunday night. The man was arrested in Cavan Garda station at 2.30 p.m. yesterday.
Mr Leigh (64) died from a blow to the side of the head, according to the State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison. Dr Harbison carried out a post-mortem which concluded early yesterday at Cavan General Hospital.
The victim had been found lying in the doorway of the old farmhouse he shared with a male friend, after the friend flagged down a passing car near the house around 11.30 p.m. on Sunday.
Earlier that evening the two men had dined together at the nearby Crover House Hotel. They had been regular customers of the hotel's restaurant since their arrival in Ireland less than two months ago.
Hotel staff said they left some time between 10.30 and 11 p.m., driving the short distance to Mr Leigh's house, about a mile from the village of Mountnugent.
A team of Garda forensic officers continued a search of the house throughout yesterday, and detectives from the investigating team are expected to conduct their own search today.
The victim's car was also taken away for forensic examination.
It is understood no obvious weapon was found at the scene, but Garda sources indicated the fatal blow could have come from any of a number of types of blunt instrument, such as a bottle or iron bar, or even a fist.
Before yesterday's arrest gardai had been anxious to trace a third man who had been seen in the company of the victim and his friend in recent weeks. However, he appears not to have been in the area for some time and was ruled out of the investigation.
After the arrest yesterday there were indications the Garda was not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident. Officers would not say whether there was a prospect of the arrested man facing charges today.
Mr Leigh, who was from Bangor in Wales, had no known links with Ireland before he arrived in Cavan.
He told local people he intended refurbishing the old farmhouse he had bought and converting it into bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
His body is to be cremated in Ireland later this week, according to his wishes.
A widower, he is survived by a daughter, who arrived in Cavan and made arrangements for his cremation yesterday, before she returned to Britain last night.
