Gardaí were last night continuing the search for the murderer of a 51-year-old man found dead under a bridge in Athlone, Co Westmeath, in the early hours of Monday.
The body of Mr Michael Chambers, from Portadown, Co Armagh, was discovered by a woman at a pedestrian underpass close to the banks of the Shannon at around 8 a.m. on Monday. He had suffered severe head injuries.
A post-mortem by the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, showed that he had been repeated beaten about the head, neck and back.
Gardaí in Athlone continued house-to-house inquiries in the town yesterday, but were last night still trying to locate the woman who phoned the Garda after discovering the body.
No suspects for the murder had been identified, however, one garda said.
A reported row in a nearby restaurant is unlikely to be related.
Mr Chambers is believed to have stopped off in Athlone, heading to Northern Ireland on his way back from a trip to the south of the country.
He was found fully clothed, lying face down on the ground, and was reportedly carrying a small rucksack which was still strapped to his back when his body was found.
Dr Cassidy carried out an initial examination of the body at the scene.
Mr Chambers's remains were later removed to Longford-Westmeath General Hospital for the post-mortem.
He was seen at several locations around the town on Sunday night, and gardaí believe he died after he was attacked between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Monday.
Gardaí in Athlone last night renewed their appeal for information about anything suspicious that might have been seen in the vicinity of the bridge or the underpass on Sunday night or Monday morning.
