Gardaí seek more than one attacker in Bweeng death

Gardaí believe more than one person was responsible for the violent death of a north Cork man and that they must have used some form of transport to get to and from his isolated home.

They also suspect Peter Murphy, who was 36, was beaten to death at his rented home in Bweeng sometime late on the evening of February 5 or February 6. Mr Murphy’s body was not discovered until lunchtime on February 7.

More than 30 gardaí are working on the investigation and the man leading it, Supt Pat McCarthy, said that the inquiry is painstaking.

Mr Murphy — who occasionally repaired cars and lawnmowers — was found dead at the house at Shanavoher by his landlord.

The landlord had been notified that the glass panels on the front door of the house had been smashed in.

Gardaí believe that whoever attacked Mr Murphy forced their way in through that door and then savagely beat him.

His injuries are believed to have included a fractured skull, broken ribs, and damage to internal organs.

Mr Murphy was unemployed and kept himself to himself. He was not a pub-goer and socialised at home.

The native of Castletownroche previously lived at rented accommodation in Rockchapel and moved to the Bweeng area more than a year ago.

He was known to occasionally take drugs and gardaí are looking at this as one line of inquiry.

Supt McCarthy said that gardaí were still trying to pin down his movements or who he may have spoken to after February 5.

Some locals saw Mr Murphy outside the house at around 2.30pm that day.

Gardaí, who are checking Mr Murphy’s phone records, know he spoke to his mother and a man in separate calls around an hour-and-a-half later.

Supt McCarthy said it was unlikely that he left his house between then and the time he was attacked.

The senior garda said that gardaí had spoken to many local people and intend to widen their inquiries to houses in the greater Bweeng and Drommahane areas.

He said the lack of CCTV near the scene was not helping the investigation and that gardaí were having to look at CCTV images taken from much further away to spot vehicle movements.

“It’s more than likely that whoever killed him had some mode of transport because the house is in an isolated area.

It’s also more than likely that more than one person was involved,” said Supt McCarthy.