Man for court over Westmeath murder

A man is due in court this evening to be charged over the death of a man whose body was found in a camper van in Co Westmeath…

A man is due in court this evening to be charged over the death of a man whose body was found in a camper van in Co Westmeath yesterday.

Gardaí were called to the camper van at Lough Lene, Collinstown, Co Westmeath, shortly before 4am yesterday. When they arrived they found the dead man and another man, believed to be his travelling companion, in a distressed and disorientated state.

The dead man had not been officially named last night but was named by Garda sources as Thomas Canning (42), from Summerhill, Co Meath. His companion is a 28-year-old also from Meath.

A man known to the victim was arrested following medical treatment at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. He was questioned at Mullingar Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

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He was due to appear before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court at 7pm.

The van in which the murder is believed to have taken place was reported stolen close to where it was later parked at Lough Lene.

Gardaí begun a murder investigation after the man was found dead early yesterday.

Gardaí believe the male victim (42) was strangled in a row in the vehicle just before his remains were found.