Gardai have spoken to a person of interest after a man's body was discovered at his home.
A post mortem is currently underway on the man's remains after they were removed from his rural Westmeath home before lunchtime.
His body was found at the property at Rattin, near Milltownpass, after 6pm yesterday evening.
Investigators will await post mortem results, which they will receive this evening.
However they believe he died a violent death and the probe may be upgraded to murder.
A man who was located in the south east of the country has spoken to gardai and is a person of interest in the case.
And sources say that detectives are following a definite line of inquiry.
The victim is aged in his 60s and is originally from Belgium.
He has lived in Ireland for over 20 years and has a number of children.
Garda headquarters is expected to give an update on the investigation later this evening.
Stunned neighbours said they first became aware of his death when they saw gardai at the scene on Tuesday evening.
One said: "I didn't hear a thing until I saw the gardai pull up and the tape at either end of the road.
"He was a nice man by all accounts but I didn't know him too well to be honest.
"When he passed in the car, I'd wave and say hi but that's about it really.
"But it's very sad to hear the news."
In a statement earlier, a garda spokesman said: "Gardaí at Mullingar have commenced and investigation following the discovery of a body in unexplained circumstances in County Westmeath on the 25th of October, 2022.
"Shortly after 6pm on Tuesday, the body of a man in his 60s was discovered by Gardaí in a house at Rattin near Milltownpass. He was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.
"The Office of the State Pathologist and Garda Technical Bureau have been requested to assist in the investigation. The local Coroner has also been notified.
"The outcome of a post-mortem examination will determine the course of the investigation.
"No additional information is available at this time."
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