Gardaí believe pensioner missing from his Dublin home was murdered and body disposed of – The Irish Times

Gardaí investigating the disappearance of a pensioner missing from his Dublin home for more than a month believe he was murdered and his body disposed of to conceal the killing.

Detectives have identified a person of interest in the case and the first arrest has been made.

Though the missing man’s remains have not been found, gardaí suspect he was killed in an apartment in the south inner city, probably late last month. A residential property in The Liberties area has been sealed off for examination.

The missing man’s family, including his siblings and his children, many of whom are based in the southwest, have grown increasingly concerned as they have been unable to contact him in recent weeks.

Though they brought their concerns to the Garda, they have also been making their own inquiries and seeking information in a bid to find out where he is and what has happened to him.

After making trips to Dublin in a bid to get in contact with him, and speak to people who know him, they filed a missing person’s report.

“Gardaí are investigating all of the circumstances around the disappearance of a male – aged in his 60s – who was reported missing from the Dublin 8 area, on Sunday,” Garda Headquarters said on Tuesday evening, in the first statement about the man.

“As a result of ongoing enquiries, a male – aged in his 20s – has been arrested in connection with the investigation today.”

That man is detained at a Dublin Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. That legislation gives gardaí 24 hours to interview the suspect, at which point he must be charged with a criminal offence or released without charge.

Though gardaí strongly suspect they will uncover evidence of a murder, their initial concern is to determine where the missing man’s remains are.

While the missing man, who is originally from Limerick, has not been seen by or spoken to any of his loved ones for over five weeks, his disappearance was only reported to the Garda two days ago.

Garda sources say the delayed reporting will hamper the investigation, though they stressed the inquiry was now moving forward rapidly, with the property in The Liberties sealed off for forensic examination and a person of interest detained for questioning.