Bandon River victim 'survived previous fall'

A father-of-one killed after being beaten and dumped in a river escaped death more than two years ago.

Jonathan Duke’s remains were pulled from the River Bandon in Bandon, Co Cork, after a passer-by reported seeing a body being thrown in late last night.

Two suspects, a man and a woman both aged in their 30s, were arrested a short time later at the Bridge House apartment complex in the town.

The 27-year-old victim had cheated death in June 2009 when he fell from a window in the same block of flats and was hospitalised for six months.

“He almost died, he was unconscious for a long time,” said one local source.

Mr Duke, an out-of-work labourer, has a seven-year-old daughter.

It is believed there had been a party in the apartment earlier where a row broke out and he was assaulted before being thrown into the water.

His mother Michelle and three sisters are said to be devastated by his death.

It is understood she was working in the Ho Kee Chinese restaurant just feet away as the drama unfolded – unaware her son was being pulled from the river.

She saw the gardaí responding to the emergency call but was unaware her son was involved in the incident until officers called to her home later.

The suspects are a Cork woman and an Eastern European man.

Two crime scenes were sealed off as part of the investigation, with forensic officers and the Garda underwater team combing the river and the apartment were the arrests were made.

Superintendent Eddie MacEoin appealed for anyone who may have been in the Bandon bridge area between 10.30pm and 11.15pm to come forward.

“It’s a very, very distressing crime,” he said.

“A young man, his life ended, it’s just very sad for everyone concerned. There’s a young child there.”

Bandon Mayor Sean O’Donovan offered his condolences to Mr Duke’s family.

“On behalf of the people of Bandon and west Cork, our prayers are with them,” he said.

“Everyone is in total shock that something like this could happen in our close-knit community.”

The suspects were detained under section four of the Criminal Justice Act in Bandon Garda Station.