American man arrived at Ballyfin Demesne hotel just hours before death

Security at the gate of the Ballyfin Hotel. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

A man found dead in one of Ireland’s most exclusive hotels was an American who had only checked into the hotel hours before a suspected fatal assault, it is understood.

The man, who was in his 60s, was found in the leisure centre of the luxury Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Co Laois on Tuesday night after 8pm.