Man due in court after body found in house in Mayo
Gardaí at the scene after the body of an elderly man was found at a burning house at Pheasant Hill in Castlebar, Co Mayo, shortly after 6.30pm on Sunday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire
A man has been charged in connection with the discovery of a body in Mayo on Sunday night.
A man, 60s, was arrested on Sunday evening as part of the murder investigation and was held for questioning at Castlebar Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
He will appear before Castlebar District Court today.
The man who was found dead with gunshot wounds in a house fire in Castlebar has been named locally as John Brogan.
The remains of the 83-year-old retired bachelor farmer were found in his cottage at Pheasant Hill, Cloonkeen.
A man in his sixties was arrested on Sunday evening as part of the murder investigation and is being held for questioning at Castlebar Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Gardaí and emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a house in the Pheasanthill area shortly after 6.30pm on Sunday evening.
The house had been set on fire and once the flames were extinguished by the fire brigade the victim's body was discovered inside the house.
The victim is also believed to have been shot a number of times.
The scene has been preserved and the services of the Garda Technical Bureau and Office of the State Pathologist have been requested.
The deceased was a well known farmer whose family lived at Pheasant Hill, near Castlebar, for generations.
A bachelor, he has been living alone since the sudden death of his brother, Henry, over five years ago.
According to locals, he was a familiar figure on his bicycle over the years cycling to and from Castlebar, several miles away.
Councillor Martin McLoughlin, a member of Mayo County Council, said this morning the local community is shocked and saddened by the ‘grim’ events which unfolded yesterday.
He described the death of Mr. Brogan as “an absolute tragedy”.
Gardaí in Castlebar are appealing to any person who may have information in relation to this incident to contact them at Castlebar Garda Station on 094 903 8200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
