Teenager due in court over horse breeder's death

A teenager will appear in court later today charged with the murder of a well-known Co Waterford horse breeder.

Gardaíinvestigating the death of Dick Forristal, 66, whose body was discovered in his home at Carrigavantry Stud near Tramore, confirmed a second man is still being questioned in connection with the fatal stabbing.

Both men were arrested within a few hours of each other in the Waterford area yesterday.

A Gardai spokesman said: “A 19-year-old man is due to appear at a special sitting of Waterford District Court charged in relation to the murder of Richard Forristal.”

Officers believe Mr Forristal may have surprised one or more robbers when he returned to his home on Thursday after attending the funeral of Tara Whelan, 17, who was killed in a bomb blast in Turkey.

A number of burglaries were believed to have been carried out in the Tramore area recently.

A friend of Mr Forristal discovered his body at the rural farmhouse at about 2.30pm.

A preliminary post-mortem examination showed he was stabbed to death.

Mr Forristal was a well-known horse breeder and his horse, Blue Corrig, was scheduled to race in the Galway Festival next week.

He was one of hundreds of people who attended Tara’s funeral in Kilmeaden, several miles from his home.