Man may have been murdered for his flat screen TV

A 62-YEAR-OLD retired barman may have been murdered for his flat screen television.

Gardaí are examining this potential lead in their search for the killer of Donal Manley, but stress it is one of the lines of inquiry they are following.

A man wearing a red jacket was spotted carrying a flat screen television under his arm near the dead man’s house at High Street, Cork last Friday evening.

Senior gardaí say a television is missing from the home of Mr Manley, who lived alone.

Superintendent Michael Finn, who is leading the investigation, said gardaí were looking at burglary being a potential motive.

Detectives have not ruled out the possibility Mr Manley had confronted an intruder and a struggle ensued which resulted in his death.

A postmortem examination confirmed the barman of 30 years died following an assault.

Originally from Grenagh, Co Cork, Mr Manley had lived at the house in High Street for the past 20 years and had worked almost all his adult life at The Sextant bar, in the city centre.

Regular customers of the bar yesterday expressed their shock that such an “inoffensive gentleman” had been murdered.

Stephanie O’Callaghan, who runs the bar, summed up their feelings. “He was a very respected person. He was outgoing and lively. Donal was professional and courteous and he was always talking about his family,” said Ms O’Callaghan.

“We can’t believe it, we are all very shocked. It was a tragic end to a wonderful life.”

Ms O’Callaghan said Donal was also a very strong man and he wouldn’t let anybody take advantage of him.

Gardaí continued with house-to-house inquiries in the area yesterday, while forensic experts carried out further examinations at the scene of the crime.

More than 30 gardaí are working on the case and they are appealing for the public’s help in catching Mr Manley’s killer.

The man with the television was seen near Mr Manley’s house between 5.30pm and 6pm last Friday.

Superintendent Finn said Mr Manley was last seen at lunchtime on Friday at the front of his home.

His body was discovered at 8.30pm last Sunday, after neighbours contacted gardaí to say they were concerned at not seeing him for some time.

“We are anxious to talk to anybody who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area between lunchtime Friday and last Sunday night,” said Supt Finn.

The superintendent visited Mr Manley’s brothers and sisters yesterday to offer them condolences on behalf of the gardaí.

Anybody with information is asked to contact Anglesea Street garda station at [phone].