GARDAÍ ARE expected to launch a murder investigation following the death of a pensioner who sustained injuries in an attack at his home early last month.
Sources familiar with the case have described the attack in Co Cavan on 73-year-old Johnny Golden as extremely violent.
The pensioner was subjected to a sexual assault and his body was mutilated during the incident at his home in Doogarry near Killeshandra on night of September 6th or morning of September 7th last.
Mr Golden was not married and lived alone. He was found badly injured at his home on the morning of September 7th when neighbours became concerned for his welfare and called to the house.
The man, who was described as a popular man and talented traditional musician, survived the initial attack and was taken to Cavan General Hospital for treatment. He had been cared for at the hospital for the past month but never regained consciousness and died on Wednesday night.
His remains were transferred to Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, Co Meath, yesterday for a postmortem by the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Kahlid Jabbar.
That examination was continuing late last night. If it confirms Mr Golden’s death was as a result of the injuries he sustained during the attack on him. The Garda Síochána will upgrade their investigation to a murder probe.
On the morning Mr Golden was found, his house was sealed off. An extensive search and forensic examination of the scene was carried out by members of the Garda Technical Bureau.
Gardaí believe the dead man was attacked by somebody living in the locality. On September 11th,they arrested a 17-year-old boy and questioned him about the attack. While he was released without charge, it is understood he remains a key person of interest in the Garda inquiry.
One theory being explored by gardaí is that whoever attacked Mr Golden may have had a long standing grievance with him over events going back a number of years. It is understood robbery and vandalism have been ruled out as motives for the incident.
Mr Golden was raised in an orphanage in Bray, Co Wicklow. He later settled in Carriagallen, Co Leitrim, and while a teenager began work there as a mechanic. He was also known for his interest in vintage tractors.
He was heavily involved in the Church of Ireland in the Cavan-Leitrim area. In recent years he had featured in the popular book Vanishing Ireland.
Supt Thomas Maguire of Ballyconnell Garda station said an incident room had been established at Ballyconnell and he urged possible witnesses to come forward.
“We believe that John Golden was the victim of an assault on the night of September 6th between 9.30pm and 9.40am (on September 7th). We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Nedd, Doogarry, Killeshandra to come forward and talk to our investigation room where a full investigation team has been set up,” he said.
He added: “We wish to stress that incidents of this nature are very rare, thankfully, in this part of the country and we would appeal for anyone with any information even if they think it is insignificant to contact us and pass on anything that they have and we will investigate it fully.”