Gardai investigating the murder of a barman in Limerick city centre now believe robbery might have been the motive for the vicious attack. Mr Noel Pyper (48) died from head injuries after being attacked on his way home from work on Monday night.
Gardai are also investigating a possible link between Mr Pyper's murder and an attack on a young man on Monday night. This man, who was attacked by a group of youths, is recovering from a broken jaw in a Cork hospital.
Sgt John Kelly, from Henry Street Garda station, said yesterday they were still keeping an open mind on Mr Pyper's killing.
"One theory we are working on is that it may have been a robbery that went wrong, as some coins and a set of keys were found by the body."
He said there had been a very good response from the public. "There are now at least a dozen to two dozen suspects, but we are happy with the response and we still want people [who were in the area at the time] to come forward," he said.
He added that gardai could not substantiate suggestions that the victim was assaulted earlier in the day in Noel's Bar, in Catherine Street, where he worked, and had keys stolen. Suggestions that he got on the wrong side of drug dealers by refusing to serve them could also not be substantiated.
Members of the Serious Crime Squad from Dublin are involved in the investigation. Video footage from business premises is being examined in an effort to study the dead man's last movements. He was kicked to death at Lonergan's Lane, off Newenham Street, early on Tuesday morning.
Mr Pyper, from Macroom, Co Cork, was separated from his wife, who lives in England. They have two children. His funeral took place in Macroom on Thursday.