‘Shock and disbelief’ in North Cork at death of postman Barry Daly
Barry Daly was found dead near his home in the village of Doneraile, Co Cork.
Gardaí are preparing to launch a murder inquiry after a man died in a violent assault outside his home in North Cork in the early hours of Sunday.
The deceased, a well-known postman in Mallow named locally as Barry Daly, aged in his 40s, was found dead near his home in the village of Doneraile.
Gardaí believe he was fatally assaulted on the street near his home at Rockview Terrace following an earlier altercation in a pub in the village at around 2am.
Mr Daly lived in the area with his partner and had four children.
Investigators believe several people were in the area and may have witnessed the fatal assault, and they are also keen to speak to anyone who saw the earlier altercation in the pub.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed to lead the investigation, and a family liaison officer has been assigned to provide support to the deceased’s loved ones.
Detectives began searching for CCTV footage on Sunday and conducted door-to-door inquiries in the village.
Assistant State pathologist Margot Bolster visited the scene, and an autopsy is due to take place at Cork city mortuary.
The Garda investigation is likely to be upgraded to a murder probe, pending the results of the autopsy.
The death has plunged the local community into a state of shock, following a celebratory day on Saturday when the local GAA junior hurling team won the North Cork Junior B final against Ballyclough.
Social Democrats councillor Eamonn Horgan, who is based in Midleton but originally from Doneraile, described a sense of “shock, sadness, and disbelief” in the town.
“I heard the news as it was coming in this morning,” he said.
“It’s a very close-knit community. It’s really shocking, and hard to put into words at the minute.”
Fianna Fáil councillor and former Cork county mayor, Frank O’Flynn, said people had woken up to “shocking news” on Sunay.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said.
"People are finding it very hard to believe. They’re shocked and upset, and this is a very sad time. They’re in my prayers and thoughts.”
In another incident, on Saturday night, a man in his 40s suffered serious injuries in an assault in Tipperary. The man was rushed to Cork University Hospital by ambulance shortly after 9pm after an assault in Knockane.
Two men in their 20s have been arrested in connection with the investigation.
They are being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in Tipperary.
A garda spokesperson said investigations are ongoing.
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