Gardai continue to question men about man’s death in Cork

Gardai investigating the violent death of a man in North Cork earlier this year are continuing to question four men arrested as part of the investigation.

Detectives believe that the death of Peter Murphy at his rented home at Shanavoher in Bweeng, some 10km from Mallow, in February may have been drugs related.

Wednesday morning, gardaí arrested one man in Buttevant and two in Doneraile to bring to five the number of people arrested for questioning about Mr Murphy’s death.

One of the men arrested was brought to Fermoy Garda Station and two were taken to Cobh Garda Station for questioning about the killing.

Gardaí had earlier arrested one man in Buttevant and another in Doneraile on Monday morning and brought them to Mallow Garda Station for questioning about the death.

All five men were arrested under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows gardaí detain suspects involved in organised crime for up to seven days without charge.

But Wednesday, gardai released without charge one of the men arrested on Monday and gardaí will now prepare a file for the DPP in relation to him, said a garda spokesman.

A native of Shinnick Place in Castletownroche, Mr Murphy had been living for a period at the rented house in Shanavoher in Bweeng where he had a machine repair business.

The arrests are the first made by gardaí investigating the death of Mr Murphy whom detectives believe was beaten to death at his rented home in Bweeng on February 5th or 6th.

Gardaí believe Mr Murphy may have been attacked in one room and either crawled or was dragged by his assailants into the sitting room, where he was found on Saturday, February 7th.

The post-mortem carried out by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster confirmed that Mr Murphy was dead for at least 12 hours when he was found at 1.30pm on February 7th.

Officers under Supt Pat McCarthy of Mallow Garda Station began an extensive investigation including examining CCTV from houses and businesses in the isolated country area.