Gardaí are treating the death of an 83-year-old man who was found dead in a house in Co Westmeath as suspicious.
Gardaí said they found Christy Hanley's body in his home on Bridge Street, Kilbeggan after the alarm was raised at around 10am following an anonymous phone call to a Midlands Garda station.
Christy Hanley
Officers forced their way inside and found Mr Hanley dead.
It is understood gardaí believe there had been a robbery at the house. It has been reported Mr Hanley, who lived alone, had been targeted by robbers at his home before.
Mr Hanley bred and traded horses locally but was best known for his roulette wheel on street stalls at race meetings and town fairs around the country.
The scene was preserved for a technical examination and the State Pathologist’s office was contacted.
Results of a post mortem on Mr Hanley’s body, which is being carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, are expected later this evening.
Gardaí are treating the death as suspicious and have appealed for witnesses
Gardaí closed Kilbeggan's main street to traffic this afternoon.