Local people in a village on the Meath-Offaly border were in shock last night after an elderly bachelor farmer was murdered and his brother seriously injured in an attacked by intruders.
Mr Paddy Logan (81), who died in the attack, lived with his brother Mr Peter Logan (83) in their isolated, two-bedroomed cottage, 300 yards from the main road, a mile from the village of Castlejordan in Co Meath and four miles from Edenderry in Co Offaly.
The tiny cottage which is set back in a field is not visible from the main Edenderry/ Castlejordan road. The only entrance to the house is across a field and is not easily seen. It was at about 4 p.m. when two men, who were believed to be in their late 20s or early 30s burst into the Logan house demanding money.
Both brothers were beaten by the raiders, who are thought to have used a floor brush, and Mr Peter Logan had injuries to his head and face. It is understood his brother Paddy may have been struck on the head and his body was found on the floor of their kitchen.
The attackers made off with less that £50. Their nephew-in-law, Mr Frankie McGuinness, happened to phone the house at around 4 p.m., just after the attack, and was answered by Mr Peter Logan who was hysterical as he screamed he had been attacked and robbed and wanted help.
"When I arrived out to the house, I found Peter pouring blood from his face and Paddy was lying motionless on the floor. It was a horrific sight," said Mr McGuinness.
Mr Peter Logan was taken by ambulance to Tullamore General Hospital suffering from head and facial injuries.
The State Pathologist was expected at the scene to carry out a preliminary examination. Gardai sealed off the cottage last night and a murder investigation led by Supt Peter Wheeler was started.
The Logan brothers have farmed in the area for decades and were reared in the house. They were described by local people as popular individuals but who were also very private, keeping their business to themselves. "There wasn't a more harmless individual in the entire county than Paddy Logan," a neighbour said last night.
An intruder came into the house in January demanding money, but he left in haste when Mr Paddy Logan produced his legally held shotgun and fired shots over his head as he ran away.