Gardai in Co Westmeath are treating as suspicious the death of an elderly man found dead in Athlone yesterday. His body was discovered by a local curate on the grounds of the Knights of St Columbanus club beside St Mary's Church at 8.30 p.m. A doctor examined the body at the scene and noted injuries inconsistent with death by natural causes.
It is understood the deceased, who is in his 70s with an address in the town, had suffered severe head injuries.
His body was taken to the morgue at St Vincent's Hospital in Athlone, where the assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, is due to carry out a post-mortem today. Preliminary investigations have been launched by local gardai.