Ireland

Taxi driver suffered a 'violent death' say Gardai in Co Louth

 Forensic officers search the scene after a Dundalk taxi driver was found stabbed near the Armagh Road at Kilcurry
 Forensic officers search the scene after a Dundalk taxi driver was found stabbed near the Armagh Road at Kilcurry  Forensic officers search the scene after a Dundalk taxi driver was found stabbed near the Armagh Road at Kilcurry

A taxi driver found dead on a road a short distance from his cab suffered a violent death, say gardai in Co Louth.

The victim has been named locally as Martin Mulligan - a 53-year-old father of two daughters - from Dundalk.

He is believed to have been attacked and stabbed a few miles outside the town.

He was described today as "a family man, a local man, a hard-working man in the Dundalk area," by a garda officer.

A woman who had been travelling along the R177 road shortly after 3am discovered his body and alerted the authorities.

Mr Mulligan was from Lower Point Road in Dundalk and was a well-known independent taxi driver.

The crime scene was in an area known as Kilcurry on what locals call the Armagh Road, only a mile from the border and a few miles from Dundalk town centre.

The spot is also near where the M1 motorway crosses overhead.

Mr Mulligan's car, a Louth registered Skoda Octavia with a taxi roof sign, was found a short distance away from where his body was discovered. The taxi was parked just off the road.

Family members visited the scene in the morning as news began to filter through of the violent death. Two cars, one of which was the taxi man's, were taken from the scene of the killing for further forensic tests.

Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis conducted preliminary examinations on Mr Mulligan's body at the location. It was later removed for a post mortem to take place.

The road where Mr Mulligan's body was found is a popular route north from Dundalk into south Armagh.

Gardai said his cab was parked a few yards in on a right turn just off the Armagh Road heading north, near the townlands of Carn More and Kilcurry.

The victim's body was found about 200m-300m away, on the road.

Superintendent Gerry Curley, from Dundalk Garda Station, described the victim as a family man and appealed for witnesses.

"He was a family man, a local man, a hard-working man in the Dundalk area," the officer said.

"We are satisfied it was a violent death.

"We will be seeking assistance from the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as it is close to the border."

Mr Curley asked anyone who had a lift from Mr Mulligan in the area last night to come forward.

The cabbie is believed to have begun working in the Dundalk area from about 9.30pm on Sunday.

Gardai also appealed for anyone to come forward who may have seen Mr Mulligan's car, a beige-coloured Skoda Octavia saloon with the registration 07-LH-5599, in the hours before the discovery.

It is understood the second car taken away for forensic examination was being driven by the woman who discovered Mr Mulligan's body.

Suspected involvement of Provisional IRA is not a line of inquiry.