Gardaí search for gun in Cork death

GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING the death of a man in Co Cork last week were yesterday continuing to search for the weapon that killed him and to question three suspects about the killing.

Searches continued at Grenagh and Vicarstown for the rifle used by a masked gunman to shoot dead Patrick Hogan (42), a father of five, on the Glen Road near Waterloo outside Blarney on Thursday.

Garda technical and forensic experts were also examining the contents of a barrel seized by detectives in Vicarstown, in which a bonfire had been lit and which gardaí believe was being used to burn clothing.

Gardaí were also still examining the scene where Mr Hogan’s body was found in a drain after he jumped over a ditch in an attempt to escape the gunman.

Three men were detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to detain suspects for up to seven days.

Supt Con Cadogan of Gurranebraher Garda station appealed to members of the public who may have seen anyone walking through fields or along the roads between Garrycloyne Cemetery and Vicarstown on Thursday between 4pm and 5pm to contact them in confidence at 021-4946200.

Gardaí were particularly anxious to speak to any person who saw anyone on foot in Garrycloyne, Dawstown, Fox’s Bridge or Gilclaugh in Vicarstown.

He said that farmers may have seen someone walking cross country between Garrycloyne and Vicarstown, which is a distance of 4.5km; or walking along the road between the two either via Boreenglas and Dawstown or via Newcastle and Courtbrack, a distance of 10.7km.

Some 20 members of the Army search team joined with 20 members of the Cork City Divisional Garda search team searching lands at Vicarstown yesterday.