Suspect in Youghal murder probe questioned

GARDAÍ continued to interview a suspect in the murder of Cork man Michael O’Shea as his family made preparations for his funeral in Youghal.

The 31-year-old’s body was taken from his burning flat in the centre of the east Cork seaside town in the early hours of Thursday morning. The unemployed single man was described as a very quiet person by shocked locals.

Gardaí are now satisfied that he had died before the fire, based on the results of a preliminary postmortem examination on Thursday evening that found Mr O’Shea had a number of injuries. That examination at Cork University Hospital by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster continued yesterday while the investigation team interviewed the suspect at Midleton Garda Station.

The man in his late 20s and originally from Cork city is believed to have been living for a short time in Youghal. He was arrested at 9.30am yesterday at a house 40km away, in Cobh, and was held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allowed gardaí to keep him for questioning until late last night.

However, the law entitled them to extend the detention period and late last night he was held for a further 12 hours. A decision must be made later today whether to release or charge him, depending on the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The flat in which Mr O’Shea was found was still sealed off for forensic examination and searches of the premises and surrounding streets. It is understood that a number of items have been recovered which may be helpful to the investigation.

However, gardaí still wish to hear from anybody who may have seen Mr O’Shea before 10pm on Wednesday when he was sighted outside an Xtravision video shop near the building he lived in at North Main Street, very close to the town’s famous clock tower.

The investigation team is also seeking information about any suspicious or unusual activity seen in the area between that time and 2.30am on Thursday when emergency services attended the fire. Any relevant information about the death can be reported to Youghal Garda Station (024 92200), the Garda confidential line (1800 666 111) or any Garda station.