A murder investigation has been launched in Cork city after the results of a post-mortem on the body of a 38-year-old Lithuanian man indicated his death occurred as a result of a head injury.
The body of Gintaras Balcionas was discovered face down in the garden of his flat at Rockgrove Terrace near the train station on the Lower Glanmire Road in Cork shortly after 4pm on Sunday.
Mr Balcionas body was kept at the house on Sunday night to allow a Garda technical team to carry out a forensic examination yesterday morning.
The Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, also carried out a preliminary examination of the scene yesterday morning before conducting a postmortem later at Cork University Hospital. The postmortem revealed that the Lithuanian incurred serious injuries to the head and upper body.
Two Lithuanian men and a woman helped gardaí with their inquiries. The three went voluntarily to Mayfield Garda station on Sunday but gardaí say they are in no way suspected of the killing.
Mr Balcionas, a father of one, is believed to have moved into the house on the Lower Glanmire Road a year ago with his wife.
The rented house is divided into eight flats.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to assist them in their inquiries. They are particularly interested in speaking to a man who was seen flagging down traffic outside the house at Rockgrove Terrace at 4.15pm on Sunday.
Gardaí continued their door-to-door inquiries in the Lower Glanmire Road area yesterday.
Gardaí in Mayfield are leading the investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the station on 021-455-8510.