A 29-year-old man charged with killing a pensioner last year has been refused bail.

One of the men arrested over the killing of a publican during a robbery at his rural bar was released today without charge, detectives said.

MURDER squad detectives have been called in to investigate the death of publican Matt Farrell after a postmortem confirmed he lost his life as a direct result of a series of blows across his head during a late-night attack at his home.

A publican murdered during a robbery at his rural bar died after being beaten about the head, it emerged today.

A massive manhunt was launched tonight after a popular publican died when he was tied up during a violent robbery.