Two men arrested in relation to death of man in Co Tipperary over Christmas period

Maciej Nowak (32) found at residence in Ballycrana in Co Tipperary on December 27th

Two more men have been arrested as part of a garda investigation into the death of a 32-year-old man who was found dead in a house in Co Tipperary over the Christmas period.

Detectives investigating the death of Polish national Maciej Nowak arrested two men at a location in Dublin on Monday evening and brought them to Tipperary town Garda station for questioning.

Both men, who are in their 30s and Polish nationals, were detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State 1939 which allows gardaí to hold suspects for up three days before they must be charged or released.

Offences which suspects can be held under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act include firearms and explosive offences but also withholding information in a garda investigation.

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The arrests bring to three the number arrested in connection with the death of Mr Nowak who was found shortly after 4am on December 27th at a rented house on the Tipperary-Limerick border.

Members of the Armed Support Unit from Cahir found Mr Nowak unresponsive in a downstairs room of the house at Ballycrana, Kilross in Co Tipperary and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Nowak’s body was later removed to University Hospital Waterford for a postmortem which gardaí said would determine the course of their investigation into his death at the isolated house.

Mr Nowak – who worked in construction on various jobs around Munster – had been celebrating his 32nd birthday on St Stephen’s Night with friends when he suffered fatal injuries in an assault.

A 27-year-old Polish national, Tomasz Rozpeda has already been charged in connection with an assault on Mr Nowak at the property between December 26th and December 27th.

Mr Rozpeda was charged at special sitting of Nenagh District Court on December 30th with assault causing harm to Mr Nowak contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Det Garda Kevin O’Keeffe of Tipperary Town Garda station told Judge Elizabeth MacGrath that Mr Rozpeda made no reply when the assault causing harm charge was put to him after caution.

Mr Rozpeda of No Fixed Abode did not apply for bail and has since made a second court appearance and has been remanded in custody to appear again at Nenagh District Court on January 24th.

Sgt Cathal Godfrey of Nenagh Garda station told Judge Philip O’Leary at the last appearance that gardaí were awaiting DPP’s directions but further charges may be brought at the next hearing.

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Barry Roche

Barry Roche

Barry Roche is Southern Correspondent of The Irish Times