Murdered man 'was on visit to mother'

A murdered man is believed to have been on his way to visit his mother in Northern Ireland when he was killed, gardaí said today.

Michael Chambers, 51, is thought to have travelled from Co Cork in the south of Ireland and spent the weekend in Athlone, Co Westmeath, where he was found dead yesterday morning.

He had been struck repeatedly on the head and was lying face down on a pedestrian path under a bridge.

Although originally from Portadown, Co Armagh, gardaí described Mr Chambers as a “floater“. They said they were unsure of his last address and that he may have been living in Co Cork.

Sergeant Paul Cuttle, of Athlone Garda Station, said: “Our understanding is that his intention was to travel to Lurgan where his mother was living.

“We believe he had come up from Mitchelstown. In Co Cork. As he was seen there on Friday.”

Over the weekend a number of witnesses saw Mr Chambers in pubs around Athlone.

Sgt Cuttle appealed for anybody with information to come forward, but said the motive for the murder was unclear.

“He was a bit of a character and people would have remembered him if they saw him,” he said.

“He had a good head of grey or white hair, a thick white moustache and always wore a rucksack and a wooly hat.

“He was very chatty and spoke with a strong Northern Ireland accent.”