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Old Market Street, Sligo (File) Google Street View

Gardaí told of male who was ‘tied up’ day before Eugene Gillespie found

It has emerged that Gardaí received a call alerting them to a male who was tied up in a house with a brown gate in Sligo the day before Eugene Gillespie was found tied up in his house in the town.

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.

Searches

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.

Read: Renewed appeal over Eugene Gilliespie murder

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50 Comments
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    Mute Eimear O'Flaherty
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    Oct 19th 2017, 12:09 AM

    I’m sure the figures are much higher, staff are too busy to fill out incident reports. I know from experience.

    175
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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Oct 18th 2017, 10:54 PM

    That is truly frightening.

    I had to attend A&E when my father in law had a heart attack. It was a Friday night at 11,30PM. I saw drunk and drugged males, mainly young, thtrestening and attacking nurses and junior Doctors. I was badly scared.

    115
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    Mute Andrew Corrigan
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    Oct 19th 2017, 12:07 AM

    part of the job in social care main stream and most disability services,its called care in the community close asylums and pay private companies a fortune to mind them by 18 yo colledge grad girls in residential settings,its theequivilant of putting a square peg in a round hole

    36
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    Mute nick mullen
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    Oct 19th 2017, 12:19 AM

    @Andrew Corrigan: It is too expensive to keep someone who has mental health problems in an institution so ask them to take their medication every day in what they call care in the community

    17
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Oct 19th 2017, 12:50 AM

    @nick mullen: It doesn’t sound like prescription medication to me, what Michael/Fiona was describing. Scary enough to be waiting with someone seriously ill while you’re healthy and could leave. The staff must be sick of this carry-on.

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    Mute John Scott
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    Oct 19th 2017, 8:14 AM

    @Andrew Corrigan: look at Oberstown it is a joke of a place.. Give it back to Prison Officers. Patting on head don’t work

    11
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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Oct 19th 2017, 4:37 AM

    Drunks and Drug addicts on a Saturday night should be fined for causing hassle and assaulting staff and other genuine patients both verbally and physically just because of their own irresponsible behavior.A&E is for sick people .

    38
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    Mute Inanimate Carbon Rod
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    Oct 19th 2017, 2:52 AM

    Some members of the HSE still boxing the head off old people

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    Mute Stewart O Neill
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    Oct 19th 2017, 6:39 AM

    Even non staff members get hit or puched or in a case i know head butted. There aint enough staff to monitor every patient.

    10
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    Mute John Scott
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    Oct 19th 2017, 8:11 AM

    Another number from a government body. Don’t believe them. I know staff are far to busy to be filling in another paper trail. After all some managers think it you job. That is a reality.

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    Mute YouHaveGotToBeJoking
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    Oct 19th 2017, 9:10 AM

    Is it anger or frustration? I can understand the hostile attitude but you have to feel for the front line workers. It is not on. It is nobodies fault but the government.

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    Mute AP
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    Oct 19th 2017, 11:19 AM

    Throw them out of the hospital and that’s it….. unless there’s a physiological reason for behaviour ….. out the door!! People’s sense of entitlement have them acting like morons in some cases but if everybody knew being a moron means no treatment they would pull their horns in sharpish!!!

    12
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