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Cork

Third body found following Garda search connected to deaths of two brothers in Mitchelstown

The house in Mitchelstown has been sealed off and an investigation is continuing.

LAST UPDATE | 26 Feb 2021

TheJournal.ie / YouTube

A THIRD MAN has been found dead following the discovery of the bodies of two people in Cork today, gardaí have said.

News broke this morning that two brothers aged in their 60s had been found dead at a house in Curragorm in Mitchelstown.

Gardaí subsequently launched a search for a Toyota Corolla van in connection with the discovery, before finding the vehicle parked at an unconnected farmhouse at Killacluig in Mitchelstown at around 10am.

The body of man was later discovered in the Funcheon River at a remote location nearby, around a mile from where the vehicle was found. It is understood that this body is that of a third brother.

His body was spotted by the garda air support unit and was subsequently recovered this afternoon by garda water unit divers. 

WhatsApp Image 2021-02-26 at 12.51.45 The scene at the River Funcheon, where a third body was discovered Niall O'Connor Niall O'Connor

Garda call

The gardaí were contacted just after 11.30pm last night and subsequently went to the farmhouse in Mitchelstown.

It’s understood the body of one of the brothers was found on open ground outside the home, and after a search of a nearby outhouse the second brother’s body was found. Both suffered significant head injuries.

WhatsApp Image 2021-02-26 at 11.18.34 Niall O'Connor Niall O'Connor

The incidents happened in a rural area outside Mitchelstown, comprising mostly farmland and a small number of houses.

The farmhouse where the two bodies were initially discovered is located in a rural part of North Cork, halfway between Mitchelstown and Kildorrery, on the side of a hill.

Access to the home is via a laneway, and it’s understood two brothers lived at the home together.

Independent councillor Frank Roche was on the scene of the incident today and told TheJournal.ie: “We’re absolutely devastated. We sympathise with all the people involved.” 

A cordon remains in place 1km from the farm.

There has been a heavy garda presence in the area since this morning, with officers – including three armed supports and two dog units – conducting searches near where the van was discovered.

Superintendent Liam Geraghty, addressing the media outside Mitchelstown Garda Station, said gardaí are now in contact with the bereaved family and that a family liaison officer has been appointed. 

Superintendent Geraghty said post-mortems are due to take place on the bodies tomorrow.

He added that gardaí are asking anyone who may have any information about interactions between the three men in the run up to this incident to get in touch with them.  

- With reporting by Daragh Brophy, Stephen McDermott and Garreth MacNamee

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Niall O'Connor & Sean Murray
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