Funeral Mass for Sligo murder victim Eugene Gillespie

The funeral Mass has taken place in Sligo of murder victim Eugene Gillespie.

The 67-year-old died last weekend after he was tied up and beaten during a robbery at his home on Old Market Street.

A man in his 20s was this morning arrested in connection with his killing.

Speaking at Mr Gillespie's funeral Mass this afternoon, local parish priest Fr Dominick Gillooly said it was strange that more was not done after gardaí received a 999 call alerting them that a body was tied up at a house with a brown gate.

Gardaí said they went to a property and found nothing untoward.

The next night Mr Gillespie was discovered with his hands tied behind his back in another property in the town.

He may have lain injured for two days before he was found in his home on Old Market Street – less than 100m from the town’s garda station.

Family, friends and members of the local community gathered at St Anne's Church in Sligo this afternoon to pay their final respects to Eugene Gillespie.

Vintage cars lined the churchyard car park as a tribute to Mr Gillespie who as a well known member of the Connacht Veteran and Vintage Motor Club.

Parish Priest Fr Dominick Gillooly, shared his heart felt sympathy with Mr Gillespie's family as they grieve for Eugene and said he was "cruelly and violently taken from them last weekend".