Man quizzed in death outside pub probe

A MAN presented himself voluntarily to gardaí at the weekend for questioning in connection with the death of a father of four who was ejected from a Cork city pub.

The 44-year-old man, with an address on the northern outskirts of the city, was questioned on Saturday by gardaí investigating the death of Anthony Hennessy, 41, who collapsed outside the Mo Chúisle Bar off Blarney Street on the northside of the city in the early hours of Friday.

The man was released without charge.

Several other witnesses have been interviewed as part of the investigation and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Hennessy, originally from Cushing Place in Farranree but who was living in Gurranabraher, Cork, entered the bar just before midnight on Thursday.

He asked to be served, but was refused. He remained on the premises for several minutes before being asked to leave.

It is understood that bar staff had to restrain Mr Hennessy while ejecting him from the premises, and gardaí were called. But Mr Hennessy collapsed on the street a few minutes later and the emergency services were alerted.

They performed CPR before transferring Mr Hennessy by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where doctors continued to work on him. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at about 1.30am.

Gardaí immediately launched an investigation and sealed off a section of road outside the pub for a full forensic examination.

Door-to-door inquiries were conducted and CCTV footage from cameras in the area was also examined.

State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a post- mortem examination of the body on Friday afternoon but the results are not being released for operational reasons.

Gardaí appealed for witnesses, especially taxi drivers or pedestrians who may have passed the Mo Chúisle Bar between 11.45pm and midnight on Thursday, to contact them on 021-4946200.