Public urged to help Garda hunt for person who left man to die

A PRIEST urged the public yesterday to help gardaí find the person who tied up a frail pensioner in his home and left him to die.

As the body of Christy “Gussy” Hornibrook was released to his family, Gurranabraher parish priest, the Very Reverend Kieran Shorten, asked Mass-goers at the Church of the Ascension on Cork’s northside to give every assistance possible to the 50-strong Garda team hunting for his assailant.

Mr Hornibrook’s body was found last Tuesday afternoon by his older brother Bobby in a downstairs room in his rundown terraced home on Templeacre Avenue.

A murder hunt was launched the next day after post-mortem results confirmed the reclusive 74-year-old had died a violent death. However, gardaí have declined to discuss reports that his hands and feet were bound.

Fr Shorten’s plea came as the senior garda leading the investigation met with detectives yesterday afternoon to discuss the case.

Superintendent Con Cadogan issued two specific appeals for help afterwards.

He urged the man who spoke anonymously with Detective Garda Derek Mulcahy for five-and-a-half minutes last Wednesday to make contact again.

This man has valuable information which could prove vital in this case, he said.

“I would like to reassure the caller that we will treat him with the strictest of confidence. I would urge him to make contact with the incident room, any garda station or to contact me personally.”

He also appealed for taxi drivers who picked up or dropped off fares in the Gurranabraher area between 8.30pm and 10.30pm last Monday to contact the incident room at Gurranabraher Garda Station on 021-4946209.

An exhaustive process of door-to-door enquiries concluded yesterday.

Detectives are analysing almost 1,200 statements collected from 600 homes.

Supt Cadogan said they have helped build up a detailed picture of Mr Hornibrook’s last known movements.

However, the anonymous caller and taxi drivers could provide vital extra information, he said.

The results of fingerprint, DNA and fibre analysis tests taken from Mr Hornibrook’s home are expected mid-week. They could also provide a breakthrough.

Gardaí are keeping an open mind on the circumstances surrounding the death, but it is understood Mr Hornibrook died of a heart attack after a botched robbery attempt.

His remains were released to his family yesterday and they will be removed to the Church of the Ascension in Gurranabraher tomorrow at 6pm. The funeral Mass is due to take place at 2pm on Wednesday with burial at Douglas Cemetery.