Gardaí search for axe used in murder of man

John Breslin

Sean Duffy, a 36-year-old businessman, was also struck by a bolt from a crossbow during Saturday morning’s attack at his home near Dungloe in west Donegal.

Detectives are trying to piece together the events of Friday night, Saturday morning.

More than one person may have been involved in the attack on Mr Duffy, who is thought to have disturbed burglars ransacking his remote home at Meenacross, about three miles from Dungloe on a sparsely populated peninsula.

However, gardaí have not ruled out the possibility Mr Duffy knew his attackers.

When asked about the use of a crossbow and an axe in the attack, Chief Superintendent White said no axe was found at the scene but would not comment further. There is speculation that after walking in to his home shortly after 2.30am, Mr Duffy, 6ft and 18 stone, confronted his attacker or attackers.

He was hit with a bolt from the crossbow and then struck a number of times across the back of the head.

Locals have been left stunned by the killing, the first violent death in the area in a generation. They are devastated that there may be someone in the area responsible for this “heinous crime”, said Minister of State Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher.

The Donegal TD knew the murdered man. “He was a fine individual and none of us can understand why anyone would have murdered him,” he said.

Mr Duffy was involved in a number of businesses, used cars and buying and selling horses and ponies. He also worked as a doorman during the Mary from Dungloe festival.

“He had a friendly disposition and a great presence,” said Mr Gallagher.

More than 40 detectives are involved in the hunt for the killer of Mr Duffy.

Teams of detectives were searching the area around the house where the body was found by his 18-year-old brother shortly after 2.30pm on Saturday.

House to house inquiries are also being made while detectives particularly want to speak to any taxi drivers working the area on Friday night, Saturday morning. Mr Duffy had spent the evening in the Strand View Bar in Maghery before travelling the two miles back to his widowed mother Kathleen’s house.

He left there at 2.30am to walk the short distance back to his own home.

Meanwhile, close to 30 gardaí have been drafted in to investigate the suspicious death of a 36-year-old man in Cork some time overnight on Thursday.

Dariusz Piotr Straszewski was found dead in his bed at a rented house in Farranree he shared with a number of people.

The body was discovered on Friday morning.

Gardaí have appealed for anyone who may have seen the Polish national between 6pm on Thursday and 1am on Friday to come forward.

Mr Straszewski had been drinking in the area close to his home on Fairfield Road, Farranree.

Detectives viewing CCTV footage are believed to be checking whether he was involved in any altercation on Thursday evening.

A post mortem on the body was inconclusive and further toxicology and other tests are being carried out.

A detailed forensic examination of the rented house at Farranree was conducted over the weekend. The other tenants of the house have also been questioned.

Mr Straszewski was married but his wife remained in Poland after he travelled to Ireland to find work.