Autopsy expected to confirm death of man in Macroom was homicide

Detectives are investigating the death of Jack O'Donovan and want to establish his final movements between Thursday and Friday morning.

Gardaí have been working to establish how long the body was at the scene, with an appeal issued for information from anyone who saw anything unusual in the area from 2pm on Thursday to 10am on Friday morning. Picture: John O'Shea

An autopsy on Saturday is expected to confirm that a man whose body was discovered in Macroom on Friday was murdered.

The body of Jack O’Donovan, from Dan Corkery Place in the town, was found by a walker at about 9.30am on Friday morning at the local golf course. Mr O'Donovan, who was in his 20s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gardaí have been working to establish how long the body was at the scene, with an appeal issued for information from anyone who saw anything unusual in the area from 2pm on Thursday to 10am on Friday morning. 

Detectives are also keen to determine who he spent his final hours with and what happened to lead to his death.

The area was sealed off by gardaí and they have also harvested CCTV footage from Macroom town centre. 

A family liaison officer has been appointed to Mr O’Donovan’s family. An incident room has been set up in Macroom Garda Station.

A Garda statement on Friday said: “Gardaí are interested in speaking with any person who may have been in the vicinity of Golf Club, Castle Grounds, Macroom Co Cork, between 2pm on Thursday, October 22, and 10am on Friday, October 23.

"Any road users or pedestrians who were in the area and who may have camera footage (including mobile phone and dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on 026-20590, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”