TV reconstruction to jog memories in bid to find pensioner’s murderer

GARDAÍ are hoping for a breakthrough in their investigation into the murder of a frail Cork pensioner when his last-known movements are re-enacted on Crimecall tonight.

Superintendent Con Cadogan, who is leading the investigation into the death of 74-year-old Christy “Gussy” Hornibrook, yesterday issued an appeal ahead of a TV reconstruction of the victim’s last known movements on Monday, November 5.

Gardaí have used information gleamed from almost 2,000 questionnaires and footage from local businesses to piece together a detailed picture of Mr Hornibrook’s movements.

The reconstruction will show Mr Hornibrook in a local Centra shop at about 8.30pm on the night of his death browsing through newspapers and magazines before leaving for the short walk to his home.

Supt Cadogan said detectives are working to eliminate from their enquiries more than 100 people filmed by the shop’s CCTV cameras about that time.

He appealed to anyone who has yet to contact them to do so. Almost 120 taxi drivers have also been interviewed by detectives.

But Supt Cadogan said an anonymous caller who spoke to Det Garda Derek Mulcahy for a little more than five minutes on Wednesday, November 7, has yet to get back in touch.

“I appeal to that man to contact us again,” he said.

“This man has valuable information which could be of enormous benefit to our investigation. We will treat the information with the strictest confidence.”

Mr Hornibrook’s body was found in a downstairs room of his local authority-rented terraced house at Templeacre Avenue in Gurranabraher on Cork’s northside. The body was found at about lunchtime by his brother Bobby, who lives in nearby Churchfield.

Although gardaí have refused to discuss the cause of death and the motive behind the killing, it is understood Mr Hornibrook’s hands were bound.

Meanwhile, Crimecall will also feature an appeal by gardaí about a 100,000 raid on a courier company in Glanmire, Co Cork.

Three raiders entered

Securispeed at Brooklodge East at 3.30am on Wednesday, October 31. They loaded up an Izuzu Trooper and white Scania truck, which were parked at the warehouse, with Elizabeth Arden perfume, 30 different styles of ladies’ Faith shoes, Canterbury sportswear and Hewlett Packard computer equipment.

The Izuzu Trooper was found abandoned the following day at Wilton Court Shopping Centre. The truck was located on November 8 at Heaphy Grove, Kilworth.

Det Insp Martin Dorney said gardaí were anxious to hear from anybody who had seen the vehicles. He said the truck had the registration number 98 C 73143, but the number 3 had been altered to look like an 8.

Crimecall is on RTÉ 1 at 10.15pm tonight. Call 1800 40 50 60.