Gardaí in Kerry are expected to launch a murder investigation after a post-mortem examination revealed a 58-year-old man found in a burning house had died from head injuries.
Gardai had initially thought the man, named locallay as James Cahillane, had died from injuries suffered when a fire broke out at his home at Ardraw, Beaufort between Killarney and Killorglin.
But a post-mortem by assistant State pathologlist, Dr Margot Bolster at Kerry General Hospital today confirmed Mr Cahillane had suffered severe injuries to his head.
Gardaí now believe he had been the victim of a violent assault and had been repeatedly beaten around the head with some implement or object.
Garda technical experts were tonight carrying out a forensic examination of the three bedroom bungalow some five miles from Killorglin where Mr Cahillane lived alone.
He was dropped to his home by a taxi driver sometime around midnight on Wednesday and gardaí have spoken to the taxi driver to try and find out if he noticed anything suspicious at the house.
A fire was spotted at the house around 2am yesterday morning when a neighbour heard a loud bang and the emergency services were alerted and were quickly on the scene.
Firefighters recovered Mr Cahillane's body from the hallway of the house at about 3.15am and he was pronounced dead at the scene before his body was removed to Kerry General Hospital.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or unusual around the townland of Ardaw between 11pm on the 18th and 2am on the 19th April 2012, or anyone who has information that may be helpful to contact gardaí in Cahirciveen on 066 9473600.
