Gardai look to CCTV in Congo veteran killing

Barry Duggan

CCTV footage could prove vital to track down the culprit who murdered an elderly man at his small terraced home during a robbery.

Gardai are today attempting to uncover how Jimmy Boyce (72) -- a former soldier -- was killed at his Limerick city home.

His body was found in his upstairs bedroom at the house in St Mary's Park on Monday evening by officers after neighbours became concerned about his safety. It has not yet been established when Mr Boyce was last seen alive.

Gardai are appealing for anyone who may have seen Mr Boyce, a Congo veteran, between Saturday morning and Monday evening to contact them immediately.

State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy conducted a post-mortem examination on the victim yesterday but the results have not been released for operational purposes.

However, the Herald understands that Mr Boyce was killed violently but was not stabbed or shot. Several marks were detected on his face and gardai suspect robbery was the motive.

Supt Frank O'Brien said the murder was a "heinous crime".

"Mr Boyle met his death as a result of violent means," Supt O'Brien said.

Officers were last night studying an extensive CCTV system from the estate in a bid to identify the killer.

innocently

It has not yet been revealed what was stolen from his home in St Munchin's Street in the inner city estate. Gardai are also examining the possibility that the victim, who was well known in the area and lived alone, may have innocently let his killer into his home.

Next-door neighbour Christopher McNamara raised the alarm before 7pm on Monday after his mother became concerned about Jimmy's safety.

"My mother, Cora, looked after him. We are devastated over it. We still don't know really what happened."

Concern was raised on Monday afternoon when Mr Boyce's Meals on Wheels service run by St Mary's Aid Integrated Development called to his door but nobody answered. Volunteers left his meal with Cora McNamara and asked her to look out for her neighbour.

Christopher McNamara's mother told her son of her concern when Mr Boyce had not arrived to collect his dinner by 6pm.

"I was with my wife and my brother came over for me and said my mother was worried about Jimmy. So I jumped over the back wall and I saw the curtains were pulled upstairs and downstairs and he wouldn't do that. He opens them when he gets up every morning," Mr McNamara said.

"My mother had a key, so we looked in and could see no sign of him. I couldn't get into his bedroom. We phoned the guards and waited for them to come.

"The guards came and they forced the door open and just came back down and said he was there. We are just really gutted."

hnews@herald.ie