GARDAÍ HAVE SAID further tests will be needed to identify the exact cause of a 53-year-old’s death, five days after he was involved in an altercation with a number of youths in central Drogheda.

The State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, carried out a post-mortem examination on the deceased man at the Dublin City Morgue this afternoon.

Further tests will be carried out tomorrow to determine the exact cause of death. Gardaí this evening said it could take several weeks for the exact cause of death to be determined.

The man was pronounced dead at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin yesterday, five days after being involved in a mid-afternoon altercation with an unstated number of youths at the corner of Shop Street and Bessexwell Lane.

He was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in the town on Sunday, and was removed to Beaumont shortly afterwards.

Anyone with information on last week’s altercation is asked to contact Gardaí in Drogheda at 041 9874200, or the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666 111.