Dublin: Murder inquiry after violent death of pensioner

Gardaí in Dublin have formally launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a man's body at a sheltered accommodation complex for pensioners in the south inner city yesterday.

Eighty-year-old Vincent Plunkett was found dead in the complex on Cork Street shortly after midday.

Reports this morning say his throat had been cut during a violent assault.

The pensioner once worked as a traffic warden in Athlone and was a well-known figure locally.

In 1997, he was convicted of stalking a 25-year-old man and his wife and subjecting them to a reign of terror, including pushing excrement through the door of the couple's house.

He was fined €300 and given a three-month suspended sentence.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have seen someone coming or going from his apartment over the past 48 hours to contact them at Kevin St station.