Cork murder victim linked to notorious gang

The man who was shot dead in an execution-style killing on the banks of the River Blackwater outside Mallow was a suspected member of an armed robbery gang that stole from homes and businesses at gunpoint in the 1990s and 2000s.

Paul 'Bosco' O’Connor, aged 56, was found dead last Thursday afternoon by someone walking along the riverbank at Ballyellis, on the outskirts of Mallow town in North Cork.

He is believed to have suffered gunshots to the head. A shotgun was used in the killing, it is understood.

A man in his 30s was arrested on Monday in connection with Mr O’Connor’s death. He was being detained at a garda station in the southern region under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 yesterday evening, and can be held for up to seven days for questioning.

The army assisted gardaí yesterday with the search of open fields and woodland that surround the murder site on the secluded riverbank.

The garda sub-aqua unit was also searching the river as the gun used in the killing has not yet been found.

Mr O’Connor, who was from Connolly Rd in Ballyphehane, was known for abusing drugs for many years but his life had reportedly “fallen apart” before his death and it is suspected that he was using drugs quite heavily.

Line of inquiry

Although one of line of inquiry has been whether he owed a drug debt, it is suspected that he was a drug user rather than a major drug supplier.

Mr O’Connor was known for armed robbery and for violence two or three decades ago.

It is suspected that Mr O’Connor was linked to an armed robbery on a jewellery shop in Kinsale at Halloween in the early 2000s, when a gang of armed men came to the door wearing Halloween costumes and forced the shop worker to hand over valuable stock.

He is also suspected of links to an armed robbery at a bank in Skibbereen.

Gardaí believe he took the train from Kent Station in Cork city to Mallow on Wednesday evening, arriving after 7.20pm. He was wearing a dark green hooded jacket, khaki-coloured combat trousers, and black runners.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on 022-31450, the garda confidential line on 1800-666-111, or any garda station.