Updated 2.55pm
GARDAÍ HAVE SAID that they received a call last Thursday relating to a male who was tied up in a house with a brown gate in Sligo the day before murdered Eugene Gillespie was discovered tied up at his house in the town.
The 67-year-old died on Saturday night from injuries sustained after he was assaulted during an aggravated burglary in his home on Old Market Street.
Gillespie was found last Friday evening unconscious and lying in the hallway of his home with his hands tied behind his back.
It is believed the assault happened some time between 9pm on Wednesday and 9pm on Friday last and it is now being treated as a murder investigation.
Gardaí said today that they had received a call on Thursday and acting on information in this call they went to a house with a brown gate in the town where they “satisfied themselves that there was nothing untoward”.
They are now using the call as part of their investigation and liaising with phone companies in an attempt identify the anonymous caller.
Earlier, searches were carried out by Gardaí in the area this morning though the details of these searches have not been released for operational reasons.
Separately it is reported in a number of newspapers this morning that an Australian-based friend of Gillespie, Declan Foley, has offered a reward for information leading to finding the person or people responsible for the assault.
He has asked people to email him on declanfoley@ireland.com with any information they may have.
Gardaí said that members of the public are entitled to do what they wish but that their only official involvement with any kind of reward would be through Crimestoppers.
A spokesperson for the Gardaí said that any information received is welcome.
So far there have been no arrests.
Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information or who can assist with the investigation to contact the incident room at Sligo Garda Station on 071 915 7000, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
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