First photo of tragic pensioner beaten to death with vodka bottle in a bag
THIS is the pensioner killed after its suspected he was punched and beaten over the head with a bag containing a vodka bottle when he went to investigate noises outside his home.
Michael Hayes, aged in his 70s, was found critically injured outside his home at St Michael's Court apartments, in Watergate, Limerick City, at around 11.30pm on Thursday.
Mr Hayes was resuscitated by paramedics and taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where he was pronounced dead in the early hours of Friday morning.
Paying tribute to Michael on Friday evening, the Garryowen Residents Association posted:' Heartfelt condolences to Garryowen native Michael ( Mikey) Hayes , formerly of Kilmurry court Garryowen , an extremely pleasant, gentle person , sincere condolences to all your family from all your old neighbours and friends.'
Michael Hayes
News in 90 Seconds - Saturday July 12
Dozens of neighbours also paid tribute to the pensioner describing him a 'gentle soul.'
A man in his 40s who was known to Mr Hayes, but who is not related to him, was arrested by gardaí on Friday morning.
The man was being questioned by gardaí under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Gardaí believe Mr Hayes was assaulted and beaten with a vodka bottle that was wrapped in a bag.
Gardaí were following a number of lines of enquiry, including that Mr Hayes may have gone to investigate loud noises outside his home when he was attacked.
The results of a post mortem, that was to be conducted by the office of the State Pathologist, will determine the next course of the Garda investigation, sources said.
The assault took place in Watergate, Limerick city
One of Mr Hayes's neighbours, Geraldine Costello, paid tribute to him.
'Michael was a lovely boy, he'd always go out of his way to do a good turn for you,' she said.
'His dog, Daisy, is crying all the time because Michael is not there.
'I was only talking to him yesterday, I'm after getting an awful shock.
'I was very fond of him, I'm a good friend of his, I've known him since I was young and I'm very sorry that he is gone.'
Ms Costello's niece, Tracy Coleman, said: 'It is shocking, because he was a really lovely man, and he would always go out of his way and do whatever do you.'
'He was a young man for his age, everyday he was always going for walks.'
It's understood Mr Hayes lived alone and has a number of grown-up children.
Mr Hayes, who lived near the Milk Market, was known as a gentle and respectful man who kept to himself but was always willing to lend a hand.
'He was a quiet man,' one friend said of the elderly man. 'He minded my dog when I had to be away, took very good care of her.'
A close neighbour stated: 'People here are devastated. My family are shocked. He was good to everyone around here.'
Gardaí have launched a full-scale investigation led by a senior investigating officer.
A Garda tape cordon was placed around a large section around apartments at the scene, which is located between St Michael's Street, Ellen Street and Mungret Street in the city.
Detectives were harvesting any CCTV footage in the area and carrying out house-to-house enquiries.
Gardaí appealed for anyone who was in the area on Thursday evening who may have information or who may have footage to come forward.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Gardaí at Henry Street Garda Station (061) 212400, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
ENDS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
24 minutes ago
- The Journal
Tánaiste says any gardaí showing 'brazen' disregard for roads policing 'letting colleagues down'
ANY GARDAÍ WHO have shown a 'brazen' disregard for roads policing are 'seriously letting their colleagues down', Tánaiste Simon Harris has said. The Fine Gael leader was responding to comments by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, about a report that found some gardaí showed a 'blatant disregard' for roads policing duties while they knew their actions were being reviewed. The Journal / YouTube It comes amid a focus on road safety in Ireland, with the Government introducing new speed laws and after the Garda Commissioner mandated that frontline gardaí dedicate 30 minutes of road policing duties per shift. Simon Harris said he did not want to 'tar any one group with one brush', and said he has the utmost respect for gardaí. 'Indeed, it's not that long since we were at a funeral of a member of An Garda Síochána killed while on road traffic policing duties,' he said at Government Buildings. 'Having said that, I am concerned with what I've heard, and I'd like to be in a position to read it. So I think it's important that what the commissioner said he intends to do does happen, that he publishes the report so that we can actually see this and analyse it directly. 'Because any member of An Garda Siochana who is acting in the way that the commissioner outlined is seriously letting their colleagues down in the first instance, colleagues who work every day to keep us safe and would absolutely be undermining our road safety efforts in this country. 'There are far too many empty seats at far too many kitchen tables in Ireland. We've worked extremely hard as a country, I don't just mean as a government, as a country, to improve road safety over many years. 'That progress had stalled in recent years and indeed we'd seen a negative trend, and this is disappointing and concerning. 'But I think it's important that we have the opportunity to see the report, rather than to comment on a comment about the report.' Advertisement Asked if he was surprised that a member of government had not seen the report, considering the policing authority had seen the report in June, he said: 'I am somewhat, but I haven't had an opportunity to discuss this with colleagues in government yet, and I'd obviously like to discuss it in the first instance with the Minister of Justice.' Sean Canney, a junior minister with responsibility for road safety, said the reported findings were 'shocking' and 'serious'. 'There's no point in us bringing in laws, reducing speed limits, doing all of this kind of thing, if we don't have a functional enforcement section within the Gardaí,' he said on RTE Radio. Canney said his thoughts were with the families of the 95 people who had died on Irish roads so far this year. He said he had not read the report from consultancy firm Crowe, which has carried out investigations on behalf of An Garda Síochána previously, but planned to meet Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan and both the outgoing and incoming Garda commissioners. 'I'll be talking to the commissioners to express my deep concern with what is in this report,' he said. He said the independent Crowe report was conducted while the reviewer was 'sitting in the car with a garda that wasn't doing his duty and didn't seem to have a problem with that'. 'So I think there is definitely a serious case to be answered here as quickly as possible.' Harris said he commissioned the examination after he received an anonymous report from a whistleblower. The chairwoman of the Policing and Community Safety Authority, Elaine Byrne, said the report was 'shocking' and found some gardaí showed a 'blatant disregard' for road policing while they knew their actions were being reviewed. 'They were openly hostile to doing their job,' she said, in what she described as a 'wake-up call' for An Garda Siochana. She also described an issue with fear among Garda managers of carrying out poor performance management, which she said Harris agreed was an issue.
The Journal
24 minutes ago
- The Journal
Two people released after questioning about fatal assault of woman in Cork last December
GARDAÍ HAVE RELEASED two people without charge after arresting them yesterday as part of an investigation into a fatal assault of a woman in Cork city last year. Vanessa O'Callaghan, who was 36 years old, was assaulted while she was availing of the services of a soup kitchen on St Patrick's Street in Cork city. She was attacked by up to three people outside the former Savoy Cinema. Advertisement She received CPR from a volunteer at the scene but later passed away in Cork University Hospital. Gardaí at Anglesea Street station are still investigating the fatal assault. A man and a woman, both aged in their 30s, were arrested yesterday in connection with the investigation. They were detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in Cork. They have since been released without charge and a gardaí are preparing a file to be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Agriland
an hour ago
- Agriland
Gardai Seek Car with Cloned Plates After Dowra Mart Burglary
Gardaí in Co. Cavan are looking for the occupants of a car which is believed to be driving on 'cloned' registration plates following a burglary at Dowra Mart in the county. The burglary occurred at around 6:20p.m on Wednesday last (July 16). Gardaí in the village of Blacklion are investigating, and are looking for four individuals who were in a blue Honda Civic hatchback. The car has a partial registration of 06-DL. This registration is understood to be cloned, an illegal offence in which the registration of one car is copied and placed on another car. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact garda stations in Blacklion or Cavan town, or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111. The An Garda Síochána Cavan/Monaghan Facebook page posted about the incident, saying: "Gardaí in Blacklion are appealing for witnesses to a burglary at Dowra Mart, Dowra, Co. Cavan on July 16 2025 at [approximately] 6:20p.m. "Four occupants of a blue Honda Civic hatchback, partial reg 06-DL, which is believed to be on cloned plates, are being sought in connection with this incident," the post added. "Please contact Blacklion or Cavan Garda Stations with any information or the Garda confidential line [on] 1800 666 111," Gardaí said. In neighbouring Leitrim, Gardaí are investigating after 'tens of thousands' of euro worth of equipment was stolen from a farmyard, including a van, a quad trailer, a bowser power washer, and concrete tools. It is understood that the theft took place on a farmyard in the Ballinamore area of the county, not far from the border with Co. Cavan. According to information received by Agriland, the incident occurred 'in the early hours' of Tuesday (July 15) between midnight and 6:00a.m. A Renault Master van, with a registration of 161-D-1594, along with a quad trailer and several other items, were stolen.
