Probe into ex-soldier’s death continues

GARDAÍ hunting for the killer of retired Limerick soldier, Jimmy Boyce, said numerous statements have been taken and house to house inquiries are continuing.

The battered body of Mr Boyce, 72, was discovered in an upstairs room of his home at St Munchin’s Street, St Mary’s Park on Monday, March 7, after neighbours raised the alarm when he was not seen for a number of days.

Superintendent Frank O’Brien said a very significant investigation was ongoing and no arrests have been made. He said they are not releasing details of the cause of death as determined by the postmortem carried out by state pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy.

Mr Boyce served in the army from 1956 to 1962 and spent six months with an Irish UN contingent in the Congo in 1961.

He was awarded a UN medal for his service there.

On leaving the army he emigrated to England.

He returned to the family home in St Mary’s Park 16 years ago on the death of his mother Mary Ellen. As his brother, Joseph was ill at the time, he remained to look after him and never returned to England.

Mr Boyce was living alone and was described by shocked neighbours as a very quiet man and one “of the old stock” of the parish.

Supt O’Brien said they had got a huge response from the local community.

Detectives have been trawling through hours of film harvested from the street CCTV system in St Mary’s Park.