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Shock at brutal death of former Sligo shopkeeper

There has been widespread shock in Sligo at the horrific circumstances in which a man, Eugene Gillespie (67), met his death yesterday, Saturday.

Gardaí have upscaled their investigation to hunt down the merciless thugs who beat the elderly man and left him tied up in his premises for two days.

Mr Gillespie, a former shopkeeper an keen organiser of vintage car rallies, lived alone on Old Market Street, just 60 metres from Sligo Garda Station and even closer to the constituency office of Minister of State, John Perry TD.

He died last night in Sligo General Hospital, two days after being seriously assaulted in the course of an aggravated burglary at his home in Sligo town. See SligoToday.ie 22/9/12

The post mortem will be carried out at University College Hospital in Galway by the Deputy State pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.

Detectives say the robbery and assault could have taken place any time between 9pm last Wednesday and 9pm on Friday when the man was brought to Sligo hospital.

Right: Eugene Gillespie. Photo provided for use by SligoToday.ie by Chip Clark (USA)


They have again appealed for witnesses who saw anything suspicious or unusual around the Old Market Street area of Sligo town to contact them in Sligo (071) 915 7000 or on the Garda confidential telephone Line
1800 666 111.

See the Breaking News report, updates and numerous comments of sympathy on SligoToday.ie 22/9/12


Updates to follow....

The death bears striking similarities with the 1998 death of Eddie Fitzmaurice (83) in Bellaghy, on the Sligo/Mayo border which gardaí believe there are still people who have information about that brutal murder.

Gardaí made a fresh appeal this year, the 14th anniversary of Mr Fizmaurice's death which they described the crime as “particularly callous” as the victim was a defenceless elderly man who lived alone.

He was assaulted, tied up, gagged and left to die over the next five days. A neighbour found his body on 6 May.

Detectives say that despite exhaustive efforts to identify the culprits, nobody has been charged with the murder. The case has been reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Struck By Train

Meanwhile rail services were severley disprupted yesterday on the Sligo-Dublin line when a man, belived to be a retired garda from Coolaney, Co Sligo was struck by the 3pm train between Sligo and Collooney, and died at the scene.

In another tragedy, the funeral will take place today of the 15-year-old girl who died following being bullied online.

Ciara Pugsley was found on Wednesday night at Killargue, near Dromahair, on the Sligo/Leitrim border, after a small search party was organised by neighbours. See SligoToday.ie 22/9/12