Murdered man 'may have been on way home'

A man murdered in the midlands could have been on his way back home to Northern Ireland when he was killed, officers believe.

Michael Chambers, from Portadown, Co Armagh, was struck repeatedly on the head and left lying face down on a pedestrian path under a bridge in Athlone.

The 51-year-old was seen in several locations in Athlone, Co Westmeath, on Sunday night and is believed to have died in the early hours of Monday morning.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Chambers had been badly beaten around the head. A murder inquiry was launched last night.

Gardaí said they did not yet know the motive behind the attack. They appealed for members of the public with information on the death to come forward.