The body of a man in his twenties was discovered in wasteland near Blackrock castle in Cork city shortly after 8 pm last night.
Passers-by spotted the man's body on the ground in Blackrock and alerted the gardaí.
The man, who is believed to be from the city, had suffered severe head injuries. His body remained at the scene last night pending the arrival of the State pathologist, Dr John Harbison.
Three assaults on women are being investigated by gardaí. The attacks happened in Dundalk, Dublin and Ballyjamesduff, Co Cavan, on Friday and Saturday. Two required treatment in hospital.
In the first incident in Dundalk early on Friday, a 40-year-old woman was sexually assaulted while working in a 24-hour shop near the town centre. A 37-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards and a file is being prepared by gardaí for the DPP.
In Ballyjamesduff, a 16-year- old girl was subjected to what gardaí described as a "serious assault" in the town on Friday night. Gardaí were approached by the girl shortly after midnight and informed of the incident. She was taken to Cavan General Hospital. A Garda spokesman said yesterday investigations were continuing and a car had been impounded.
Gardaí in Lucan are investigating an attack on a 25-year-old woman between the Spa Hotel and McCoy's garage shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday. She suffered facial and head injuries.