Reward offered as mechanic’s killing unsolved

Despite interviewing more than 200 people and watching over 1,200 hours of CCTV footage, gardaí are still trying to trace the killer or killers of a 37-year-old part-time mechanic.

Garda initiative Crimestoppers has now stepped in to aid the investigation and is offering a substantial reward for information which would help lead to the killers of Peter Murphy being discovered.

He had been beaten to death in February last at his rented home at Shanavoher, Bweeng, Co Cork.

Superintendent Pat McCarthy, who is leading the Garda investigation, said that it continued to be a painstaking inquiry, hampered by the fact that it was in an isolated area.

“Nevertheless, no stone will be left unturned until we find the perpetrators,” Supt McCarthy said yesterday.

Mr Murphy’s body was discovered at his home on February 7 at about 1pm after a local informed his landlord that glass panels on the front door of the house had been smashed.

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

A postmortem conducted by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster revealed he had suffered a fractured skull, broken ribs and internal injuries.

Mr Murphy was last seen alive at his home the previous Thursday at approximately 2.30pm.

Gardaí are still trying to determine who attacked him and admit they have no idea of the motive.

Supt McCarthy said that gardaí particularly want to hear from anyone who travelled from Ballysimon Cross to Shanavoher Road between 2pm on February 5 and 1.30pm on February 7 who may have observed a vehicle that did not belong to anyone in the locality.

Mallow Garda Station: 022 31450 or Crimestoppers, 1800 250025.