Gardaí quiz man in death inquiry

GARDAÍ last night were granted an extension of detention time while they continued to quiz a 27-year-old man in relation to the death of a man in Wexford town in the early hours of Monday morning.

A Garda spokesman said: “We’ve been granted a 12-hour extension, in order to progress our investigation. We are also awaiting a report from the State pathologist arising out of the post-mortem examination.”

The Dublin-born 48-year-old man, living in Wexford for a short period, was found dead at about 1.30am at the foot of a staircase leading to an apartment. He had resided over a business premises on Selskar Street. On visiting the scene with other emergency services, gardaí arrested a man.

The man was detained at Wexford Garda Station.

The deceased had reportedly sustained a broken neck at the foot of the stairs. He had been staying in the flat with another man at the time of the incident. The victim was found in a crouched position on the floor beneath the stairs when gardaí and the emergency services visited the apartment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It is not yet known if the man fell down the stairs or was pushed.

The scene was cordoned off by local gardaí while it was being forensically examined yesterday.

Assistant State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis visited the scene yesterday afternoon where he carried out a preliminary examination, before the body was removed to the State Pathologist Facility in Marino in Dublin where a post mortem examination will be carried out.

Locals were unaware of the extent of the tragedy until yesterday at midday, when a garda was seen on point duty at the scene. On hearing of the tragedy they expressed their shock at the death.