Two due in court in horse breeder murder case

Two men will appear in court tonight in connection with the death of a well-known Co Waterford horse breeder.

The body of Dick Forristal, 66, was discovered in his home at Carrigavantry Stud near Tramore.

The men, who are believed o be aged 19 and 21, will appear before a special sitting of Waterford District Court.

They were arrested separately in Co Waterford area yesterday and held overnight questioning.

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 Garda spokeswoman said: “Two men are due to appear at a special sitting of Waterford District Court at 7pm charged in the relation to the death of Mr Forristal.”

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

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.