Gardai suspect pensioner was killed by thieves
AN elderly man found dead in an apartment yesterday may have been the victim of a burglary gone wrong.
Gardai are officially categorising the death of Denis Brennan, discovered at his apartment at Bow Bridge Court, Kilmainham Lane, in Old Kilmainham, Dublin, as suspicious. But this is expected to be upgraded to a murder case later today.
Officers are trying to piece together the last movements of the 60-year-old, who may have been dead for a number of days. He was last seen on Saturday and it is believed that the apartment was not locked and the front door was open.
Gardai were alerted that something was wrong at the apartment about midday when someone called to the flat and then contacted them. Gardai found the body but at first it did not appear that there were any obvious injuries. However, there were marks on the neck and other parts of the body.
Scene
The apartment, close to Kilmainham Garda Station, was sealed off for a forensic examination and the man's body was taken to the city morgue following a preliminary investigation of the scene. A technical team was still examining the flat and surrounding area last night as news of the death spread through the area.
Other residents in the apartments in two three-storey blocks were interviewed by gardai in the hope that they might have seen something that could help the investigation.
Meanwhile, gardai put out a public appeal for help last night. They urged anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area between last Saturday and yesterday morning to contact Kilmainham Station or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666111.
- Brendan Farrelly and Fiach Kelly
