Donegal man (71) found dead in home after car discovered nearby

Gardaí awaiting results of postmortem to establish cause of death

Gardaí are investigating the death of an elderly man at his home in Co Donegal. Photograph: Collins
Gardaí are investigating the death of an elderly man at his home in Co Donegal. Photograph: Collins

An investigation has begun after an elderly man was found dead in his Co Donegal home.

The death is being treated as suspicious by gardaí. However, a full postmortem will not be performed until tomorrow.

It means the cause of the man’s death will not be known until late tomorrow.

The Irish Times understands the man had crashed his car on Thursday and had called to a neighbour who had helped him home.

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It is believed he may have suffered an injury when he crashed.

When the car was discovered on Thursday in Kirkstown, gardaí went to the address it was registered to at Garryharry, Letterkenny. On arrival they found the body of the 71-year-old.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and the house was sealed off.

The Office of the State Pathologist was also notified.

The man’s remains were left in place overnight. A pathologist from the Office of State Pathologist was not expected to arrive at the scene until later on Friday.

An examination of the body was due to be carried out at the scene before it could be removed to Letterkenny General Hospital for a full postmortem.

That was expected to begin on Saturday morning.

Garda sources said it would not be until the results of the postmortem became available that the direction of its investigation would be known.

Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times