A murder inquiry has been launched into the death of a 90-year-old farmer in Co Waterford.
Gardaí are investigating after the body of the man was discovered at a house in Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co Waterford.
Gardaí were called to the scene shortly after 5pm on Saturday.
The man has been named locally as Paddy Lyons.
He was last seen alive on Friday shortly after 5pm.
It is believed he was found slumped in a chair with head injuries.
Gardaí have said the postmortem has concluded and it is now a murder inquiry.
At a press briefing on Monday, a Garda spokesperson said: “We are seeking the public’s assistance locally and in the wider community who may have any information in relation to this investigation to come forward.”
“We are especially asking a man and a woman who raised the alarm shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday to contact us.”
Devastation
Local councillor Declan Doocey told the Irish Farmers Journal that he knew Paddy well: “He was a lovely innocent man who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Paddy was born and bred on a beef and sheep farm which had been handed down to him from his parents, Declan said.
“He lived a full and happy life. He had his own personality and his own standards and it’s horrible to think he has been mistreated in any way,” Declan said.
“The whole community is devastated and just can’t believe it. You don’t ever imagine something like that happening here.”
“It’s really unbelievable to think this has happened.”
Paddy had lived on his own on the farm since his parents’ deaths. However, in recent years he had leased the farm to a neighbour.
Burglaries
Declan added: “To anyone who didn’t know him, he looked a man of only 70.
“He was in reasonable good health and looked far younger than his years.”
It is understood that the house belonging to Paddy Lyons is approximately 200m to 300m off the main road between Ballysaggart and Araglin and is private.
The Fine Gael councillor added that Paddy had been the victim of a burglary in his home in 2011 and it was very worrying that a number of other homes in the area had been burgled in the recent years.
Anyone with any information should contact the incident room at Dungarvan on 058 48600 or the garda confidental line on 1800 666 111.