Gardaí are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man whose body was discovered in the front garden of his home on the outskirts of the village of Ballinlough, Co Roscommon, yesterday morning.
A man was being questioned at Roscommon Garda station last evening but gardaí said they are keeping an open mind as to the cause of death, pending the results of a postmortem examination.
The dead man, who was named locally as Brendan (Thomas) Cunningham, had been living in the one-storey cottage with his parents and his teenage son.
Local people, who were shocked by his death, said that Mr Cunningham had returned from England some years ago to care for his elderly parents. State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy was at the scene yesterday afternoon, while officers from the Garda technical unit and scenes of crime unit also carried out an examination.
The house and garden remained sealed off throughout the day while the body, which had been discovered just inside the front garden wall, was protected by a tent. It was later removed to Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.
It is understood the deceased had suffered facial injuries but it is unclear whether these were a factor in his death. One of the theories being investigated is that he may have suffered from hypothermia having either collapsed or fallen asleep outside during the night.
Speaking at the scene, Roscommon-based Chief Supt Philip Moynihan said that while the death was regarded as "suspicious", gardaí were keeping an open mind pending the result of the postmortem.
