Probe into garage worker's gun death

A garage worker who was last seen alive on St Patrick’s Day was found today shot dead in the bedroom of his south Dublin home.

Detectives believe the body of Liam ’Blackie’ Murray, who was in his early forties, may have been lying in the Rockbrook Cottages house, in Rathfarnham, for the last couple of days.

A friend of the man found him upstairs in his home with what was believed to be gunshot wounds to the head at around 10am this morning.

The victim, who had worked in a garage in nearby Templeogue, had been living alone at the house for several years.

It is believed he was not married and had no children.

While the investigation is still in the early stages, it was not immediately suspected to be a gangland hit.

“It’s a bit of mystery at the moment,” said one Garda source.

No gun was found at the scene and detectives are treating the death as suspicious.

There was no sign of forced entry into the house, which is on the Edmondstown Road close to the Merry Ploughboy pub, at the foothills of the Dublin Mountains.

However, investigating gardaí said it would only be speculation at this early stage that Mr Murray knew his killer or let them into the house.

He was originally from the local area and was last seen in the immediate vicinity of his home.

A family member became worried when they had not heard from him in a number of days and asked a friend to call at the house and check on him.

The scene was cordoned off as forensic officers combed the property for clues.

State pathologist Marie Cassidy carried out a preliminary post-mortem examination at the scene this afternoon.

The body was then removed to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown for further tests.

Investigating gardaí have appealed for anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the area since St Patrick’s Day to get in contact.