Gardaí are questioning a suspect tonight after a man was beaten to death in an early morning row in a house in rural Co Cavan.
Sources told The Mirror that the suspect, who is a criminal from the west of Ireland, was tracked down after he fled the scene of the killing in the border village of Blacklion – and managed to get more than 80 kms away.
Sources have confirmed that the suspect was arrested in Castlerea in Co Roscommon after he emerged as a suspect for the brutal beating to death of the victim, named locally as Dennis Neary.
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Mr Neary, who was 52, is believed to have been from outside the Cavan village, which is right on the border with Fermanagh.
Sources say he had previously spent time in Dublin and in Roscommon.
The suspect is also from the west of Ireland, sources say, and is in his 30s.
Mr Neary was beaten to death in a house used by members of the community who led a transient lifestyle, sources say.
It’s understood he became involved in a row with another person in the house and was then attacked at around 9am this morning.
Another person raised the alarm and gardai who rushed to the scene performed CPR on him in a desperate bid to save his life - but he died a the scene.
Gardai then became aware that a man they wanted to speak to about the killing had left the scene and detectives later tracked him down to Castlerea in Roscommon – where he was arrested later in the day.
He is being held at the town’s garda station on suspicion of murder.
He can be questioned for up to 24 hours.
Local Fianna Fail councillor John Paul Feeley said the community was shocked by the killing.
“It is a sad day for the community that someone has been killed here.
“Everyone is very shocked,” he said.
Gardai confirmed that last night that a suspect was being held in Castlerea Garda Station.
The force said in a statement that the alleged fatal assault happened at 9.15am.
A spokesman said: “At approximately 9:15am, Gardaí received reports of a man discovered unresponsive with serious injuries at a domestic residence in Blacklion, County Cavan.
“Despite medical intervention by Gardaí, the male, aged in his 50s, was later pronounced dead by paramedics. The body remains at the scene.
“The scene is currently preserved for examination by the Garda Technical Bureau. The office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged for a later date.
“As a result of Garda enquiries and follow-on investigations, a man in his 30s was later arrested on suspicion of murder.
He is currently being detained at Castlerea Garda Station in Roscommon under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.”
He appealed for witnesses to come forward.
He said: “Gardaí are appealing to any person who has information that can assist with this investigation to contact Cavan Garda Station on 049 4368800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
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