GARDAÍ were questioning a man this Friday in connection with a fatal assault on a “lovely man” in Limerick City.
The victim, named locally as Michael Hayes (70s), died after he was assaulted outside his home at St Michael’s Court, Watergate, at around 11.30pm on Thursday night (July 10).
A man in his 40s, who was arrested by Gardaí this Friday morning, was being questioned on suspicion of involvement in Mr Hayes’ death.
Gardaí were working on a number of theories, including that Mr Hayes was assaulted by a man causing a disturbance locally and that when Mr Hayes went to investigate he was attacked.
They also believe the pensioner was punched and then beaten with a vodka bottle wrapped in a bag, sources said. It is also understood the attacker was known to Mr Hayes but was not related to him.
The fatal assault occurred outside Mr Hayes’ house. He suffered a critical head injury, local sources said.
One of his neighbours, Geraldine Costello, paid tribute to the late Mr Hayes, saying: “Michael was a lovely boy, he’d always go out of his way to do a good turn for you.”
“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 added.
Her niece, Tracy Coleman, described the city man’s death as “shocking”.
“He was a really lovely man, and he would always go out of his way and do whatever do you.
“There are no words to describe it, a lovely man doing his own thing, and his life just gone now like that.”
Ms Coleman said that Michael was “young for his age, every day he was always going for walks”.
It’s understood Mr Hayes lived alone and has a number of adult children.
Sources said HSE paramedics responded quickly at the scene on Thursday night and valiantly tried to keep Mr Hayes alive at the scene and en route to University Hospital Limerick, where he was pronounced dead on Friday morning.
Gardaí immediately launched a full-scale investigation, including appointing a senior investigating officer to lead the investigation.
Gardaí set up a large cordon around St Michael’s Court, situated off St Michael’s Street and Mungret Street, in the heart of Limerick City.
As uniformed officers kept a cordon at the scene, detectives were conducting house-to-house enquiries in the area.
A statement “the scene in Watergate has been preserved for technical and forensic examination by the Garda Technical Bureau”.
Gardaí said the State Pathologist and local Coroner had been notified and that a post-mortem examination had been arranged.
Gardaí confirmed that a man in his 40s has been arrested and brought to a Garda station in Limerick City, where he was being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
“Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward. Anyone who was in the Watergate area of Limerick City on Thursday 10th July, 2025, between 11.15pm and 12am, and who may have any information regarding the incident, is asked to contact investigating Gardaí,” the Garda statement read.
“Road users with camera footage (including dashcam) who were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make that footage available.”
Gardaí can be contacted at Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
