Gardaí believe that two men who are facing trial in connection with the killing of a Co Galway publican have fled the State.
Bench warrants were issued last June after the pair failed to turn up for their trial for the unlawful killing of John Kenny (56) in Oughterard in 2011.
Marian Lingurar (36), Blackpool, Cork, and a 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named, could be back home and hiding out in Romania, Garda sources have indicated.
Both are also charged with withholding information from gardaí in relation to the killing of the popular local man.
Mr Kenny also worked as a teacher.
At the adjourned inquest into Mr Kenny’s death yesterday, West Galway coroner Dr Ciarán MacLoughlin said he was granting a Garda application to adjourn the hearing until December.
Mr Kenny’s bound and gagged body was found on the floor of a toilet in his pub by his wife and daughter in September 2011. They had gone there out of concern for his whereabouts.
A third Romanian man, Florin Fitzpatrick (38), College Road, Galway, is serving a five-year sentence for withholding information in relation to Mr Kenny’s death.