Cork City murder investigation continues as colleagues mourn victim Mark O’Connell
Gardaí outside the property in Hollyville, Hollyhill, where the incident happened. Picture: Chani Anderson
The man at the centre of a murder probe in Cork City has been described as a “much-valued and respected” employee as the suspect arrested in connection with the killing was released without charge on Monday evening.
Mark O’Connell from Fairfield Green in Farranree was pronounced dead at Cork University Hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning. He had been rushed there after an altercation outside a house in Hollyville in Hollyhill at around 4.30am.
A man, arrested on Sunday morning, aged in his 50s, has since been released without charge, as Mr O’Connell’s work colleagues at Northside Community Enterprises in Farranferris tried to come to terms with his death.
A file is being prepared for the director of public prosecutions and garda investigations are continuing.
The 38-year-old had been working there for a number of months and is understood to have been well-liked.
A spokeswoman for his employers said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Mark's passing. Mark was a much-valued and respected employee of Northside Community Enterprises. We send our sincere condolences to Mark’s family and to everyone coming to terms with this dreadful news."
A post mortem examination was conducted on Mr O’Connell’s remains on Sunday evening by assistant State pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster. Although gardaí say they are not releasing the results of the autopsy for “operational reasons”, sources have confirmed that the results have led to the launch of a murder investigation.
A number of children were believed to be inside the house at the time of the incident. The injured man was rushed to hospital by ambulance following a call to the emergency services.
Neighbours were unaware of the incident until they awoke later on Sunday morning to hear of the tragedy and to see gardaí on the scene. Those who had earlier witnessed the ambulance had assumed it was responding to an emergency sick call.
The 55-year-old man in custody on Monday evening was being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, under which he can be questioned for up to 24 hours before being released or charged. It is understood he availed of breaks in questioning. He was being questioned at Gurranabraher garda station.
Mr O’Connell went to the house in the early hours of Sunday morning, and gardaí are working to establish the lead-up to his death. It is understood that the two men were known to each other. Neither of the men lived at the house in Hollyville.
A family liaison officer has been appointed to support Mr O’Connell’s family and keep them updated of any developments in the probe.
A detailed forensic and technical examination of the scene was carried out on Sunday while door-to-door enquiries were also conducted in the area. CCTV footage has also been harvested in the locality.
No funeral arrangements have yet been published for Mr O’Connell.
Gardai made a renewed appeal for witnesses on Monday and were looking in particular for any camera footage from the area to help them build a picture of the circumstances surrounding Mr O’Connell’s death.
“Anyone with available camera footage, including dashcam recordings, from those who were in the vicinity of Hollyville, Hollyhill, Cork City, between 3.30am and 4.30am on Sunday morning, 16th November 2025, is asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gurranabraher Garda Station on (021) 4946200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station,” said a spokesman.
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