A MAN IN his 20s has been arrested in connection with the death of a pensioner in Co Waterford.
The body of Paddy Lyons, who was 90, was discovered at his home in Ballysaggart in a rural area of the county near Lismore on Saturday afternoon.
The arrested man was detained this afternoon and is being held at Waterford Garda Station.
The elderly man was discovered with markings on his head and arms, leading gardaí to order a full post-mortem examination.
Speaking this afternoon Superintendent Micheal Leacy told reporters that they were now treating the death as murder.
In his appeal, the Superintendent said detectives were looking to speak to a couple who raised the alarm by calling into one of Lyons’ neighbours and telling of their concern for the pensioner.
This evening’s update from the force, issued shortly before 6pm, said that the couple had since contacted gardaí.
Post-mortem
A post-mortem on the man, who was a well-respected figure in the area, was carried out last night.
Gardaí initially believed he could have suffered the head and arm injuries as the result of a fall. However, it is now thought more likely he was the victim of an assault, well-placed sources have said.
Gardaí are also examining whether or not the pensioner’s home was burgled.
Kathleen Roche, who runs one of Ballysaggart’s local shops, said Paddy Lyons was a “lovely man” who kept himself to himself.
“He was a good man and he was very well liked by people in the area.
“There was not a bad word said about him. It’s a terrible shock for the whole area,” she told TheJournal.ie.
An incident room has been set up at Dungarvan Garda Station. Anyone with information is being urged to contact gardaí.
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