Manhunt after publican dies following robbery ordeal

A massive manhunt was launched tonight after a popular publican died when he was tied up during a violent robbery.

More than 100 officers are probing the death of Matt Farrell, which has left the small village of rural Daingean in Co Offaly shocked and saddened.

The 64-year-old father-of-four, who owned The Gaelic Bar, was discovered by his son in the family home attached to the pub shortly before at 7.30am.

Mr Farrell was last seen alive in the house by a barmaid after he locked up at 2.30am.

Postmaster Noel Quinn said there was a sense of disbelief among customers that something like this could happen on their doorstep.

“Everybody is a bit scared. They can’t feel safe in their own homes anymore,” said Mr Quinn.

“He was a lovely quiet man, he kept to himself but was hard working and a good barman.”

Mr Farrell is believed to have had a weak heart and lived with his son, also called Matthew.

The young man, who is in his 20s, slept upstairs as the attack and robbery took place in a room below and was treated for shock after finding his father dead.

Matthew and his brother David help run the bar. Their two sisters Lorraine and Michelle live out of town.

It is understood Mr Farrell’s body was not physically marked when discovered, prompting speculation he may suffered a heart attack during or after his ordeal.

Gardaí would not confirm if anything was stolen from the property, or comment on rumours Mr Farrell had been targeted before – but they stressed all incidents reported in the area over the last 12 months are being examined.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis examined the body at the scene and was due to carry out a post mortem exam at Tullamore Hospital to determine an exact cause of death.

Superintendent John Gilligan said Mr Farrell was well respected and well known in the Daingean area.

“We are treating this as a suspicious death,” Supt Gilligan said.

“At the moment we are looking to all aspects of the case.

“It will take some time to determine what exactly happened... Was there a forced entry to the house and how many people were involved.”

Gardaí appealed for anybody in the close-knit community who saw anything out of the ordinary in recent days to come forward.

“The local people are quite upset and quite concerned about this incident, about a member of the local community being found in this position,” continued Supt Gilligan.

“People are coming forward and we are urging people to continue to come forward with any piece of information to assist us.”

Supt Gilligan said Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has been in constant contact with senior officers leading the probe to ensure all garda resources are deployed to solving the case.

He revealed more than 100 officers were involved with the Air Support Unit, forensic teams and officers from Dublin’s National Bureau of Criminal Investigations working alongside local, divisional and regional gardaí.

“We are putting the maximum amount of garda resources into this investigation,” he added.

Local councillor Noel Bourke said the small community of around 2,500 people was in shock at the death of Mr Farrell, who had run the pub for 30 years.

“People are just dumbfounded by the whole thing,” said the Fianna Fáil representative.

“I knew him, he was a very nice guy, and he was well known and well thought of, not just in Daingean but throughout the area.

“He had his regular clients and ran a sturdy business. It was a nice place to go for a drink.

“If it was an attempted robbery I can’t understand why they would pick on that particular premises. I can’t imagine there was large volumes of money there.

“I hope anybody who noticed anything at any stage during the night will co-operate with gardaí.”