Son in fresh plea for help to find publican's killer
Saturday November 14 2009
THE SON of a publican who was murdered during a botched robbery at his premises has issued a fresh appeal for help to track down his killer.
Matthew Farrell Jnr made the plea after gardai carried out a major review of the eight-month investigation at Tulla-more garda station.
Four men and two women have been arrested and questioned so far about the murder but all have been released without charge.
Mr Farrell told Midlands Radio yesterday: "At the start, I was angry. Now I am anxious to find out who did it and to see justice done." His father, Matt (64), was kicked to death and could also have been punched and beaten with a weapon.
A post-mortem concluded that he had died from blunt force trauma after sustaining injuries to his head and body.
After a detailed forensic examination of the murder scene at the Gaelic Bar at Molesworth Street, Daingean, gardai carried out DNA profiling in the area.
A number of potential suspects have been ruled out as a result of garda inquiries.
The killer broke into the living accommodation attached to the pub in the early hours of April 1, tied Mr Farrell's hands behind his back, knocked him to the ground and attacked him.
He fled empty-handed in panic when he realised Mr Farrell was unconscious.
He left behind €300 in the pub till and another €300 in coins, which had been stored upstairs.
His body was discovered by his son Matt the following morning, who had been asleep upstairs when his father was murdered. He immediately raised the alarm.
Arrests
Gda Insp Pat Murray said they were preparing a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the arrests.
"We have interviewed over a thousand people, we have taken 400 statements and generated over 500 separate inquiries," he added.
Gardai are still seeking help from the public to identify a number of vehicles. They are particularly interested in a large white van, believed to have been in the area on the night of the murder.
Gda Insp Murray appealed to anyone who may have noticed people behaving in an unusual manner in the days following the murder to contact gardai.
He described the crime as a direct attack on the community. "Matt Farrell met his death in a sudden, brutal, tragic and untimely way. It was totally unnecessary."
He said that although such incidents were rare, he encouraged people living on their own in rural communities to make contact with their local neighbourhood watch and community alert schemes.
Anyone with information should contact Tullamore gardai on 057 9321305.
- Tom Brady and Eoghan McConnell
Irish Independent
