Foul play ruled out in Corkman’s death

GARDAÍ ruled out foul play last night following the discovery of a man’s body in a house on the outskirts of Cork city.

The body of John Hogan, 39, who was originally from the city’s northside, was found by his mother in a room in her bungalow in Rathpeacon, on the outskirts of the northside of the city, at about 9pm on Tuesday night.

It is understood Mr Hogan had suffered a head injury.

An ambulance was called and when paramedics arrived at the scene, they found Mr Hogan dead and alerted the gardaí.

It is understood that Mr Hogan’s mother then reported to gardaí that she had heard suspicious sounds around the same time.

Gardaí immediately preserved the scene and sealed the house off overnight, treating the death as suspicious. The body remained at the scene overnight.

Gardaí called in the services of the assistant State pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, who conducted a preliminary examination of the body at the scene at around noon yesterday.

Garda forensic experts also conducted a technical examination of the house.

The body was then removed to Cork University Hospital (CUH) just before 1pm where a full postmortem was conducted.

While gardaí declined to release the exact cause of death, they confirmed last night that they are no longer treating the death as suspicious.

It is understood Mr Hogan may have suffered a fit and struck his head while falling.

Two gardaí were on duty yesterday morning at the sealed-off house, located on a narrow country lane, set in farmland, above and behind the popular Country Squire pub.

The blinds were pulled down on the front windows. A small yard to the front of the house was cordoned off with Garda crime scene tape.

Two plaques bearing horse heads are on the walls either side of the front door.

Two 4x4 jeeps were also parked in the yard, one with a horse trailer attached. Sheds in a yard area to the right of the house were also cordoned off.

There are few neighbouring homes. The nearest house is about 500 yards away.