Man in 30s arrested over execution-style killing of Cork man Paul O'Connor in Mallow
A man in his 30s has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of Paul 'Bosco' O'Connor, 56, whose body was found on the banks of the River Blackwater in Mallow.
Arrest made in Mallow murder inquiry as gardaí appeal for witnesses
A man in his 30s has been detained by gardaí investigating the shooting death of Paul 'Bosco' O'Connor, 56, whose body was discovered on the banks of the River Blackwater at Ballyellis, on the outskirts of Mallow, at approximately 1.30pm last Thursday, irishexaminer.com reports.
O'Connor, originally from the Ballyphehane area of Cork city, had suffered gunshot wounds and is believed to have been shot at very close range, in what gardaí have described as an execution-style killing.
The man in his 30s was arrested on Monday evening and is being held at a garda station in the Southern Region under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed the investigation remains ongoing.
Final movements traced by investigators
Gardaí have reconstructed O'Connor's movements in the hours before his death. On Wednesday evening he boarded a train from Kent Station in Cork city to Mallow, arriving after 7.20pm. He then walked approximately 3km from the railway station to the College Wood housing estate — taking the longest available route to the area, bypassing shortcuts that would have been familiar to anyone who knew the locality.
His body was found on a secluded riverbank close to the estate the following afternoon.
Following the discovery, gardaí conducted door-to-door inquiries in the College Wood estate and the surrounding area, and searched nearby countryside for evidence, using implements to clear overgrowth and vegetation. A post-mortem examination was carried out by State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster; the results will not be released for operational reasons.
O'Connor was wearing a dark green hooded jacket, khaki-coloured combat trousers, and black runners at the time of his death.
Gardaí appeal for dashcam footage and witness accounts
Investigating gardaí are appealing to anyone who travelled on the train between Kent Station and Mallow that Wednesday evening, or who may have seen O'Connor in Mallow between 7.20pm on 14 October and 1.30pm on 15 October, to come forward. Gardaí are also seeking information from anyone in the vicinity of the River Blackwater at Ballyellis during that period.
Road users and pedestrians who may have dashcam or other camera footage from the area are asked to make it available to investigators.
Anyone with information can contact Mallow Garda Station on 022-31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111, or any garda station.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)