GARDAÍ have appealed for witnesses after a man was allegedly beaten to death outside a house in Limerick City earlier this morning.
The victim, named locally as Ger Curtin, (42), from Old Cork Road, Limerick, was allegedly struck with a shovel, reliable sources said.
Mr Curtin’s body was found by Gardaí in the front drive of a house at Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, a cul de sac situated not far from the city centre, on the south side of Limerick, at around 4.45am, Saturday.
Gardaí said a man in his 40s was being detained for questioning at a Garda station in Limerick in connection with Mr Curtin’s death.
Mr Curtin did not live at the house where his body was found, and Gardaí were trying to piece together his last movements on Friday night into Saturday morning as part of their enquires into how his body ended up inside the driveway of the house in Garryowen.
Tributes and photos of Mr Curtin were shared on social media by loved ones and friends.
One woman who shared a touching tribute to Mr Curtin, wrote: “Rest easy my cousin Ger, my Nans favourite. Please God mind and protect my uncle, (his) wife, and all my cousins. So cruel.”
Friends said they were “devastated” and asked for prayers for Mr Curtin’s family, who were being supported by a Garda family liaison officer.
Sympathies shared online by another woman read: “Thinking of all the Curtins at this time…RIP Ger.”
Another friend wrote: “Thinking of the Curtin family at this sad time. RIP Ger one cruel world we live in.”
Others who shared their shock online wrote how it was “very sad”, and “so heartbreaking, rest peacefully Ger, my condolences to all his family at this very sad time”.
“It’s a sin, a young boy with his whole life ahead of him. May he Rest In Peace, my condolences to all the Curtin family,” added another woman.
Mr Curtin’s body remained at the scene Saturday, covered by a Garda forensics tarpaulin tent, and, a large entrance square to the house, including neighbouring houses, remained sealed off by Garda investigators.
Gardaí said they appointed a Garda family liaison officer to Mr Curtin’s family, and requested the services of the State pathologist to conduct a post mortem on the body.
A garda spokeswoman said when Gardaí arrived at the scene they found a man, aged in his 40s, “unresponsive outside the house” in Garryowen.
“Ambulance personnel tended to the man, who was pronounced deceased a short time later. The body of the man remains at the scene which is currently preserved for a technical examination by the Garda Technical Bureau this morning.”
“A male (aged in his 40s) was arrested at the scene of the incident. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in Limerick.”
Appealing for witnesses, the Garda spokeswoman said: “Gardaí in Henry Street are appealing to, any person who was in the vicinity of Sarsfield Avenue this morning, Saturday 4th November 2023, between 4am and 5.15am, and who may have camera footage, including CCTV and dash cam footage, to make this available to investigating Gardaí.”
“Anyone with information which may assist the Gardaí in their enquiries is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
“Investigations are ongoing.”
