Murdered publican was beaten about the head

A publican murdered during a robbery at his rural bar died after being beaten about the head, it emerged today.

Matt Farrell, who owned The Gaelic Bar in the village of Daingean, Co Offaly was found tied up by his son in the family home attached to the pub shortly before 7.30am yesterday.

Initially it was feared he may have suffered a heart-attack during or after his ordeal.

But gardaí said a post mortem revealed the 64-year-old had suffered head injuries during the attack and died as a result.

Murder squad detectives, who are among 100 officers investigating the robbery and killing, appealed for anyone with information to contact gardaí in Tullamore.

Mr Farrell 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.

The last person to see him alive was a barmaid as he locked up for the night.

It is believed the pub may have been targeted by robbers in the last couple of years and while gardaí would not confirm if thieves escaped with any money detectives are looking into all incidents in the area.