Hypothermia may have killed man

GARDAÍ in Charleville believe a missing octogenarian probably died of hypothermia in his car after becoming disorientated and getting lost in a remote area on the Cork-Limerick border.

The body of 81-year-old Donal O’Connell was found in a laneway yesterday adjacent to a field at Corrough, between Newtownshandrum and Charleville.

Mr O’Connell, who was from Doona, Milford, Co Cork, was reported missing since the weekend.

Gardaí subsequently discovered he had visited a Centra shop in Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, at around 6.30pm on Sunday.

They organised search teams on Monday and, again, yesterday in an attempt to trace Mr O’Connell and his red Ford Focus.

A Garda spokesman said it was believed Mr O’Connell had become disorientated after leaving the Centra shop and, instead of driving back to his home in Milford, got lost.

His body was discovered a short time later. He was pronounced dead at the scene.