Foul play ruled out as man’s body found outside community centre

Gardaí have ruled out foul play following the discovery a man’s body in a tiny rural village in Co Clare on Saturday morning.

The 61-year-old bachelor, named locally as Anthony McElroy of Knockatunna, Kilmaley, is now believed to have died of a heart attack.

Mr McElroy was found lying face down at around 9.45am outside Ballynacally Community Centre which is close to Daly’s pub where he was known to play cards regularly.

The village is located 16km south west of Ennis, and about 10km cross country from Mr McElroy’s home.

Mr McElroy’s body was discovered by Ballynacally Development Group PRO Micheál McMahon, when he arrived to open the building.

Gardaí at Kilrush were notified and rushed to the scene.

The area was sealed off while a doctor and local priest were called.

Mr McElroy, who was pronounced dead at the scene, collapsed and died 50m from the main road.

He lay dead on the ground overnight until his body was discovered on Saturday morning.

It is now believed he suffered a heart attack while walking back to his car which was parked close to the entrance of the community centre.

The scene was forensically examined and Mr McElroy’s body was removed to University Hospital Limerick where Dr Margaret Bolster, the deputy State pathologist, carried out an autopsy on Saturday afternoon.

It was later confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr McElroy’s death and that he died of natural causes.

* Gardaí have asked anyone who was socialising in the Ballynacally area on Friday night and who might have spoken to or seen Mr Mc-Elroy between midnight and 9.45am to contact them at Kilrush Garda Station on 065 9080550.