Mayo gardaí make fresh bid to solve seven-year-old case

Gardaí in Mayo are set to distribute 2,000 posters in a fresh bid to solve a seven-year old case in which an elderly Charlestown shopkeeper died.

Eighty-three-year-old Eddie Fitzmaurice, of Bellaghy, Charlestown was beaten, gagged, tied up and left to die over a period of five days in 1998.

On May 6, 1998, Mr Fitzmaurice was found in a bedroom in his home. It has since been established that sometime between 8.20pm on Friday May 1 and Saturday morning May 2, 1998, he was attacked in his own home.

Despite extensive investigations during the last seven years, including the taking of more than 700 statements, nobody has yet been charged. The case has been reviewed regularly.

Gardaí will this evening distribute 2,000 leaflets produced by Irish Crimestoppers Trust which carry a picture of the victim and detail how he met his death.

Supt Ken Brennan, who is in charge of the renewed investigation, believes there are still people who have important information.

"We hope these posters will jog people's memories and would appeal to anyone with any information to contact us," he said.

Crimestoppers (1800 25 00 25) have offered a reward for information leading to the identification and prosecution of those behind the crime.