Gardaí issue fresh appeal for information on murder

GARDAÍ, frustrated at the failure to solve the murder seven years ago of an 83-year-old businessman, yesterday made a fresh appeal for information.

Edward, or Eddie, Fitzmaurice was tied up, beaten and left for dead inside his Co Mayo home by a gang of robbers.

The widower was attacked over the 1998 May Bank Holiday weekend but his body, tied to a chair in the bedroom of his Charlestown home, was only discovered five days later. He died of hypothermia, but the gardaí who issued the fresh appeal described the crime as murder.

A draper who owned his own business, Mr Fitzmaurice was gagged and tied to the chair. The robbers are thought to have been looking for money they believed was stashed in the house.

Superintendent Ken Brennan said: “It is the belief of the investigation team that there are still persons out there who have vital information relating to this brutal crime. We are appealing for these persons to come forward.”

More than 700 statements were taken by gardaí but no one has ever been prosecuted for the murder. Part of the investigation has included officers travelling to Britain to interview suspects who had moved there.

On the seventh anniversary of the attack, gardaí are to hand out leaflets in Charlestown in an effort to jog memories.

The Crimestoppers organisation is making a substantial reward available to anybody who can offer information which would lead to the arrest of Mr Fitzmaurice’s killers. The gardaí have set up a special incident room at Swinford.

The Fitzmaurice killing has been linked to the Morris Tribunal investigation into allegations of wrongdoing by members of the Garda in Donegal.

Seven people were arrested during a search of a Travellers site in Donegal after a detective sergeant claimed he received a tip off they were involved in the attack on Mr Fitzmaurice.

The Morris Tribunal has heard claims that Det Sgt John White planted a shotgun on the site prior to the garda operation.

Det Sgt White was charged with planting the weapon but denies the allegation and has launched a High Court action to halt the prosecution.