Gardaí launch murder inquiry after Clare body find

Detectives have launched a murder inquiry after the naked body of a young man was discovered face down in a barrel at a rural farm in Co Clare.

A man has been arrested in connection with the suspected violent death in the early hours of today at Cappagh Beg, near Barefield.

Both the suspect, in his early 30s, and the victim, aged 21, were from the area.

Investigators have spoken with a taxi driver who had taken two men from a bar in Ennis, about 8km away, to Cappagh Beg at around 3am.

Gardaí were alerted to the scene by a phone call from a person living in the area around four hours later.

They found the victim in a barrel in a field attached to a house.

It is believed he was struck on the head with either a concrete block or a bar in a violent assault.

A man was arrested nearby and taken to Ennis Garda Station. He is being questioned under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

The scene was sealed off for a forensic examination by Garda experts while the State Pathologist was asked to attend.

The victim’s body was removed to the Mid Western Regional Hospital for a post mortem examination.

Detectives have appealed for witnesses who were in the area between yesterday evening and this morning to get in contact.