Gardai in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, launched a full-scale murder inquiry last night, following a post mortem into the death of Mr John Kennedy (50), from Ballinruane, Ahascragh, Co Galway, who was found beaten to death.
The post mortem showed that Mr Kennedy, the acting manager of Funworld amusement arcade in Ballinasloe, suffered "severe lacerations of the brain". His body was discovered by employees of Supermac fast food restaurant next door at 4.15 a.m. yesterday morning. He had suffered extensive head injuries.
Chief Supt Joe Kilgannon, who is leading the investigation, said gardai were treating his death as suspicious. "The injuries are sufficiently serious to leave me with the view that this is a suspicious death," he said.
A team of 50 gardai and forensic experts conducted house-to-house inquiries and searched land beside the arcade yesterday afternoon, in an effort to determine Mr Kennedy's last movements. He was last seen alive at about midnight.
The pathologist, Dr Declan Gilsenan, from Tullamore General Hospital, began a post mortem investigation in late afternoon. His arrival was delayed due to another post mortem he was conducting in Dublin.
Chief Supt Kilgannon said Supermac employees became suspicious as they were leaving the restaurant.
The arcade usually closes at 1 a.m., but the Supermac staff noticed that the lights in the building had been left on. When they looked down a laneway between the two buildings, they noticed that the door leading to the basement of the arcade was ajar.
The employees went into the building and found Mr Kennedy lying dead on the floor with extensive head injuries.
Gardai were alerted and preserved the scene pending the arrival of forensic experts and a pathologist. They also cordoned off two cars parked outside the arcade: Mr Kennedy's white Renault, a recent acquisition which locals described yesterday as his pride and joy, and a red Fiat with a Dublin registration.
The amusement arcade is linked to the Supermac chain of fast food restaurants, and offers eight-ball pool and a wide range of amusement machines. One of the restaurants is next door to the arcade.
A number of flats above both premises provide accommodation for employees. Mr Kennedy, a single man, lived at home six miles away in Ahascragh with his elderly mother, who is ill.
The owner of the Supermac fast food chain, Mr Pat McDonagh, described Mr Kennedy's death as "tragic" and expressed his regrets.
Chief Supt Kilgannon said gardai were not following any particular line of inquiry at this stage. He appealed to anyone who had any information to contact gardai, in particular anyone who was on Main Street in Ballinasloe between midnight and 4.30 a.m. yesterday.
An incident room has been set up in Ballinasloe Garda Station, with a confidential telephone line for callers. The number is 0905-42123.