Gardai closing in on perpetrators of random fatal attack on Athlone man

Gardai in Navan say they are confident of a breakthrough shortly in the Martin O'Gorman murder investigation and expect their ongoing inquires to lead to early arrests, in what they now believe was a random attack by a gang on the Athlone native in the town over two weeks ago. "We will crack this and we will bring it to a successful conclusion," Supt Michael Devine, who is leading the investigation, told the Westmeath Independent this week. "Unfortunately, we cannot bring Martin back but we will establish who is responsible. The investigation is progressing very well. We're hoping to make early arrests." Up to 25 officers are working on the case on a fulltime basis and between the incident room set up in Navan Garda Station and door-to-door enquiries around the town, Gardai have spoken to hundreds of people about the serious assault on Mr O'Gorman, described by Supt Devine this week as a "very tragic incident". A number of witness statements have also been taken as part of the probe. "Martin was a purely innocent individual going about his business who unfortunately was in the wrong place," the Navan garda chief confirmed, adding, "we are satisfied Martin was not interfering with anyone, we believe he was going to get a coffee in a petrol station. There is no motive for this attack." Gardai are not looking for any weapon in connection with the assault. Mr O'Gorman, who worked in the family business Midland Crane Hire Ltd in Athlone was found lying on Academy Street, Navan, seriously injured, shortly after 12.30am on June 21 last. The 63-year-old bachelor from Battery Road, Athlone, subsequently died in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin almost a week after the vicious attack. It's believed that Martin, a quiet unassuming individual, had left a nearby bar and was walking towards a 24-hour garage when he passed a group of people thought to be at a house party on Academy Street. He was later found next to the kerb by a local taxi driver at around 12.30am with serious head injuries. A keen Meath GAA follower since his days as a student in Gormanstown College, Mr O'Gorman is thought to have drove to Navan from his Athlone home to celebrate Meath's victory over Laois earlier in the day. This week, Supt Michael Devine hailed the "tremendous public response" to their investigation but stressed that they are still keen to speak to the drivers of two vehicles, a black Volkswagen Golf and an Avensis or Passat, who passed by the street during the early hours of Monday. "They may not have seen the incident but they may have seen individuals. Academy Street is a quiet back street and if anyone happened to be passing through there on that night, we want to talk to them," Supt Devine urged. Officers also want to speak to a male cycling a bicycle along Academy Street in the direction of the Dublin Road at around 12.20am. This male was wearing dark clothing with a hood up and had white stripes on his trousers/tracksuit bottoms and wore white runners. Any information, however small could aid the investigation, the Superintendent added. The Incident Room at Navan Garda Station can be contacted at 046 9079930 or The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 000. There are no funeral arrangements for Martin O'Gorman at the time of going to press as his remains have not yet been released to his family. However, it's believed that it may take place sometime next week. Mr O'Gorman is survived by his two brothers Dermot and Paschal, and many nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. On Monday, Athlone Town Council passed a vote of sympathy on behalf of the O'Gorman family after the tragic death of Martin O'Gorman in Navan over one week ago. Cllr Kieran Molloy said that Martin was a "very nice, quiet individual" who had once been a member of the Dean Crowe Hall Committee. Cllr Gabrielle McFadden added her sympathies as a near neighbour and said that it was a very tragic incident.