Murder Suspected as Body Found on Beach in Brittas Bay

Gardai suspect that a man in his sixties who was found dead in Brittas Bay this morning may have been murdered and they have now called in the State Pathologist, Dr. John Harbison.

The car believed to be owned by the dead man

The body was discovered on one of the sand dunes at around 10-30 this morning by a local who was out walking. It is understood that the man sustained extensive injuries, particularly in the neck area.

While initially they felt that death may have been caused by natural causes, a knife was found in the vicinity of the body which sparked off a major investigation. They have not yet ruled out suicide.

A green Renault 19 car parked across the road from the sand dune is believed to be owned by the dead man. The car has been cordoned off and nobody is allowed near the vehicle or the in the vicinity of the body in case the scene is distrubed.

The investigation is being headed up by Detective Sergeant Fergus O'Brien who has been joined by a team of gardai and detectives from Wicklow town including detectives Pat Hayes, Liam Doyle, Denis Reilly and Pat Heraty.