Gardaí in Co Waterford are continuing to question a 21-year-old man in connection with a fatal assault in Portlaw overnight.

A 48-year-old man was found in his home with fatal head injuries. He has been named locally as John Butler.

The deceased man - who was originally from Carrick-on-Suir in Co Tippeary - was discovered in a critical condition in the hallway of his home on Brown Street just after 2.30am this morning by members of the emergency services.

He died a short time later at University Hospital Waterford.

For much of today, the village street and terraced house, as well as the pathway in front of it, remained cordoned off pending the arrival of members of the Garda Technical Bureau from Dublin to carry out a technical and forensic examination.

A 21-year-old man who was seen running from the scene was arrested a short time later and taken to Tramore Garda Station where he remains in custody undergoing questioning about the violent, fatal assault.

A section of Brown Street in Portlaw was sealed off

One of the lines of enquiry being investigated by gardaí is that the two men who are known to each other had been out socialising in a nearby pub last night after which an argument broke out and the fatal blow was struck.

Superintendent John Mulligan, who is heading up the investigating told RTÉ News that the results of a post mortem examination due to be carried out in Dublin tomorrow by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan will direct the course of their investigation.

In the meantime, witness statements are being taken, and CCTV footage is being collected from local businesses.

The young man is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and can be held for up to 24 hours before he has to be released or charged.



