Gardaí in Mallow have begun a murder investigation following the discovery of the body of a man in Ballyellis, Mallow, Co Cork.
The body of Paul O’Connor (56) was discovered at 1.15pm on Thursday on the banks of the river Blackwater at a townland known as Ballyellis, which is on the edge of Mallow town on the Killavullen Road.
An incident room has been set up at Mallow Garda station and a senior investigating officer has been appointed. A family liaison officer has also been appointed.
The man’s body was removed from the scene and a postmortem examination was conducted by State Pathologist Margaret Bolster. Gardaí said the results were not being released for operational reasons.
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The man was wearing a dark green hooded jacket, khaki-coloured combats and black runners. It is believed he travelled from Kent railway station, in Cork city, to Mallow station on Wednesday, arriving shortly after 7.20pm.
Gardaí are conducting house-to-house inquiries in the area. CCTV footage is also being gathered from local businesses and houses.
Officers are interested in speaking with anyone who was on the train between Cork Kent station and Mallow, arriving in Mallow shortly after 7.20pm on Wednesday.
They are also interested in speaking with anyone who was in the vicinity of Mallow town between 7.20pm on Wednesday and 1.30pm on Thursday and who may have seen the man.
Detectives also want to speak to anybody who may have been in the vicinity of the banks of the Blackwater at Ballyellis, close to Mallow Golf Club, between 7.20pm on Wednesday and 1.30pm on Thursday.
Any road users or pedestrians who were in the area and who may have camera footage are asked to make this footage available to gardaí.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said: “I’d ask anyone, members of the public out there, who have any information in relation to it, they should come forward.”
An examination of the scene by officers from the Garda technical bureau has taken place. Members of the Garda water unit also attended.
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It is believed the remains, which were found on the Killavullen side of Mallow, were not in the area for a prolonged period.
Local Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden said his thoughts were with the relatives of the deceased.
“This poor person. They no doubt have a family. And you would have to think was the body just dumped there?” he said.
“I don’t know how we are going to combat [such crime]. Too many families are being affected. When you see what was done in Waterford [with the killing of four members of a family] this week, it is just unreal.”
