Murder hunt launched after man found lying in pool of blood

A NUMBER of people may have seen an incident that led to the murder of a 50-year-old man in Tralee, Co Kerry, early yesterday.

Gardaí believe several people were in the area where the body of Eddie Joe Clancy was found, lying in a pool of blood in Bridge Street, shortly before 2am.

Gardaí are treating the death as murder following the results of a post mortem examination.

There are reports locally that Mr Clancy, who died from his injuries at Kerry General Hospital, Tralee, may have been assaulted by one or two other men before falling to the ground.

The incident, in which he sustained serious head injuries, occurred within 100 metres of Tralee garda station and close to the town centre.

Close circuit television (CCTV) footage, which is being examined by gardaí, could provide vital clues to the circumstances leading up to his death.

Mr Clancy originally came from the Lohercannon area of Tralee, but he had been homeless recently.

He is the second member of the Clancy family to have died tragically, as his brother John was killed in a traffic accident some years ago.

Superintendent Pat Sullivan, Tralee, who is heading the investigation, last night said the CCTV footage may help trace the final movements of Mr Clancy and identify any people who were with him.

“A lot of people were around the vicinity at the time. No doubt someone must have seen something happening,” he said.

“We’re appealing to people who were in Bridge Street, Dominic Street and the Abbey Street car park between 1.30am and 2am to come forward.”

A post mortem examination was carried out by assistant state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis in Kerry General Hospital morgue last evening. Details of the findings were not divulged by gardaí.

The scene in Bridge Street was forensically examined and gardaí are today expected to continue house-to-house inquiries.

Anyone with information can contact Tralee gardaí on 066-7102300.