Third arrest made in connection with fatal assault in Cork village

Gardaí arrested a third man today in connection with the death of a man in Doneraile following a violent assault over the weekend.

The body of father of four and postman Barry Daly, 44, was found at Rockview Terrace in the town in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Mr Daly had spent time in Eily’s Bar in Doneraile on Saturday evening.

It is believed that there was an argument outside the bar at about 1am on Sunday and that Mr Daly was attacked by men who followed him to his home. A golf club was recovered following the fatal assault.

Two men arrested this morning in connection with Mr Daly’s death remained in Garda custody this evening.

The men, one aged in his 20s and the other a juvenile, are being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at garda stations in Co Cork.

A third male, a juvenile in his teens, was arrested on Monday and also detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda station in County Cork.

Postmortem

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster attended at the scene at Rockview Terrace on Monday. 

A postmortem examination on Mr Daly's remains was undertaken at Cork University Hospital today. 

Gardaí said the results of this are not being released for "operational reasons."  

The death is expected to be upgraded to a murder investigation.

Meanwhile, An Post issued a statement in which it offered its “deepest sympathy” to the loved ones of Mr Daly.

“The CEO and all An Post staff, particularly the team at Mallow delivery unit, are deeply shocked and saddened at the untimely death of our colleague, Barry Daly,” it stated.

“We offer our deepest sympathy to Barry’s family. May he rest in peace.”

Shock

Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea said the local community was in shock, adding that it would be very unusual for anything like that to happen in the town.

“The town is reeling with the news of the death of this man,” he told The Echo.

“Doneraile is a quiet, rural town, and events like this are out of the norm.

“We are thinking of all involved today.”

Friends also paid tribute to Mr Daly on social media, saying that he “will be sadly missed”.

Emergency services rushed to Rockview Terrace at around 2am on Sunday morning. Mr Daly was pronounced dead at the scene.

A technical examination has been carried out of the area where the body was found. The house and roadway at Rockview Terrace were cordoned off by investigating gardaí, as was a second location in the grounds of Doneraile Park.

Investigation

A senior investigating officer has been appointed to oversee the investigation.

Gardaí continue to appeal for witnesses to contact them.

They are seeking any available camera footage, including dashcam recordings, from those who were in the vicinity of Doneraile on Sunday morning between 12pm to 2am.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station,” a spokesperson said.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

The death occurred following a day of celebrations in Doneraile on Saturday, after the local hurling team clinched the North Cork Junior B final against Ballyclough.