Ireland Case No. 6586Murder · Co. Cork
Macroom murder of Michael Foley under investigation
Michael Foley, a 61-year-old man, was found dead at his chalet in the Annville Sheltered Housing Complex in Macroom, Co Cork, on Tuesday 6 February 2024. A post-mortem led gardaí to open a murder investigation, and they believe he was assaulted in his home sometime around the middle or end of the previous week. A woman in her 30s was arrested and charged on 14 June 2024 in connection with the investigation. She is due before Bandon District Court on that date.
- Reported6 Feb
7 reports - Arrestednot reported
- Charged6 Feb
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Foley, a 61-year-old separated father-of-four who lived alone, died in his home in Macroom.
- Gardaí opened a murder investigation after a post-mortem found he had died a violent death.
- Where
- He was found in the kitchen area of his chalet at the Annville Sheltered Housing Complex, Barrett's Place, Macroom, though one source describes a flat in the Anville development.
- When
- His body was found on Tuesday 6 February 2024, around 1pm, by a home help in one report and a care worker in another.
- He is believed to have been assaulted around the middle or end of the previous week, and may have lain dead for several days.
- He was last seen alive on Saturday at about 10am by one witness, while Macroom Post Office records show him collecting a social welfare payment the previous Wednesday.
- Cause
- A post-mortem by the State Pathologist found blunt force trauma to the head from a serious assault, and some reports say he also had stab wounds.
- Gardaí believe the victim was attacked in his home, possibly by someone he knew, and that he may have let the attacker in.
- Weapon
- Investigators believe a weapon was used in the assault.
- Investigation
- Gardaí found no sign of forced entry or burglary, and nothing was reported missing, so robbery is not thought to be a motive.
- The investigation is led by a Senior Investigating Officer, an incident room is at Macroom Garda station, and CCTV and the victim's mobile phone are being examined.
- Gardaí are not ruling out that more than one person was involved, and have appealed for witnesses.
- Other details
- The body was found about 400 metres from where Mr Foley's brother, Timmy Foley, was stabbed to death at his home in Macroom in October 2018.
- Charges
- Gardaí arrested and charged a woman in her 30s on 14 June 2024 in the Foley murder investigation; this is an allegation.
- In court
- The woman is due before Bandon District Court on 14 June 2024.
85 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe charge relates to the murder of Michael Foley, 61. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí are treating the death of a 61-year-old man as suspicious. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Foley was found with extensive head injuries in the kitchen area of a four-room chalet. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMichael Foley suffered serious injuries to his head, neck and upper body. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe body of a man was found in Co Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe victim was found in a pool of his own blood in a room in the house. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGardaí have opened a murder investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí have launched a formal murder investigation into the death of Michael Foley. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatGardaí are investigating the murder of a 61-year-old man at his home in Macroom, Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMichael Foley was found dead at his home in Macroom, Co Cork. (garda.ie)
- whereThe body was found at the home at Annville in Barrett’s Place, near the centre of Macroom. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe body was found at Michael Foley's home in the Anville development in Macroom. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe body was found at the victim's home in the Anville development in Macroom town centre. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe 61-year-old man was found in his home in Co Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe was found in the kitchen area of his chalet at Annville Sheltered Housing Complex in Macroom. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMichael Foley was found dead in his home in Macroom. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereMichael Foley died at his home in Macroom, Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMichael Foley was found in a pool of blood at his flat in the Anville housing complex on Barrett Place. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe victim was believed to have been assaulted in his chalet at the Annville Sheltered Housing complex. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMichael Foley was found dead on 6 February 2024. (garda.ie)
- whenThe body was found at 1pm on a Tuesday by a home help. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMr Foley was last seen alive sometime on Saturday, according to initial inquiries. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe body was found on Tuesday 6 February 2024 at approximately 1pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThere are fears he may have lain dead for several days. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe body was discovered at about 1pm on Tuesday 6 February 2024. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe man was found around 1pm on a Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMichael Foley died on Tuesday, 6 February. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenMichael Foley may have been dead for some time, as neighbours had not seen him for several days. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe body was found by a care worker on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe assault is believed to have happened around the middle or end of the previous week. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe victim was last confirmed seen collecting a social welfare payment at Macroom Post Office on the previous Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- causeA source said he appeared to have been the victim of a pretty vicious assault. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí believe foul play was a factor in Mr Foley's death. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGardaí believe he suffered an attack in his home. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeA source said the death is unlikely to be accidental. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe the victim suffered an attack in his home. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeIt is understood that he died from blunt force trauma to the head as a result of a serious assault. (irishtimes.com)
- causeBlows to the head are believed to have caused Michael Foley's death. (corkbeo.ie)
- causeGardaí are probing the theory that Michael Foley was attacked after a row with someone he knew. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeMichael Foley may have known his killer and let them into his home, according to sources. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe body was found with blunt force trauma and stab wounds. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponInvestigators believe a weapon was used to assault him. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí found no evidence of forced entry at the property. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationNothing was found to be missing, suggesting robbery was not a motive. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationInvestigators have begun harvesting CCTV footage from the area. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAn incident room has been established at Macroom Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAssistant State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster is to carry out a full postmortem on Wednesday. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are set to launch a murder probe. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThere was no sign of a break-in, and officers suspect he let his killer in. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe area was sealed off and gardaí appealed for witnesses. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA post-mortem examination will be arranged. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating all the circumstances of the discovery. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe scene has been preserved for forensic and technical examination. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThere was no sign of a break-in at the home. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe postmortem was carried out by the Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margot Bolster. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí have carried out door-to-door inquiries at the Annville complex. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí have begun examining the victim's mobile phone. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA post-mortem was carried out by the State Pathologist at Cork University Hospital. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe results of the post-mortem are not being released for operational reasons. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is led by a Senior Investigating Officer, and a Family Liaison Officer has been appointed. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationExaminations of the scene are ongoing. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationGardaí are appealing to anyone who recently spoke to Michael Foley to come forward. (corkbeo.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí have launched a murder investigation into Michael Foley's death. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is led by a Senior Investigating Officer. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to liaise with the family. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThere was no sign of a burglary at the home. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA postmortem found the victim had been dead for at least a number of days before he was found. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA witness said they saw the victim at about 10am on Saturday, and gardaí are checking CCTV to confirm this. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí are not ruling out that more than one person was involved in the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí will examine the victim's mobile phone to see who he was in contact with. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeGardaí charged a woman on 14 June 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtThe woman is due before Bandon District Court on 14 June 2024. (garda.ie)
- otherMr Foley lived alone. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMr Foley's brother, Timmy Foley, was stabbed to death at his home in Macroom in October 2018. (irishtimes.com)
- otherState Pathologist Professor Margot Bolster carried out an initial assessment at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim suffered serious injuries to his head, neck and upper body. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherOfficers suspect the victim let his killer in. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherGardaí found no sign of forced entry at the chalet. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí have discounted robbery as a motive. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe body was found about 400 metres from the spot where the victim's brother was murdered in 2018. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherA postmortem was completed on Tuesday evening by the State Pathologist at Cork University Hospital. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMichael Foley had injuries to his head, face and upper body. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was a separated father-of-four. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim had been living at the chalet for about a year. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 8 Feb2024Macroom murder victim may have been dead several days when discovered, gardaí suspect
First report of the killing. Gardaí believe Mr Foley was assaulted around the middle or end of the previous week and his body was found on Tuesday. No arrests or suspects are reported.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 7 Feb2024Gardai launch murder probe into death of dad of 4 who may have known his killer
First report of the case. Gardaí have launched a murder investigation after Michael Foley's death. No suspect is named, and the article says he may have known his killer.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 7 Feb2024Gardai open murder investigation into death of Michael Foley in Macroom
First report of the death and the formal murder investigation. No arrests are mentioned. The article also notes the body was found close to where the victim's brother was murdered in 2018.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 7 Feb2024Murder inquiry begins following death of man at Co Cork sheltered accommodation
First report of the death of Michael Foley, found at his chalet in Macroom with serious head injuries. Gardaí have opened a murder investigation and are carrying out door-to-door inquiries and phone examination.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 7 Feb2024Murder probe expected in case of man found dead in Macroom
First report of the death. Gardaí had not yet confirmed a murder investigation; the Irish Mirror reported the attack belief. The article also mentions the 2018 killing of the victim's brother and his ex-wife's conviction, which concern a separate case and are not recorded as facts here.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 7 Feb2024Gardai set to launch murder probe following discovery of body in house
Reports a body found at a Macroom home, with gardaí expected to treat the death as murder. No arrests or charges are reported.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 6 Feb2024Gardaí treating death of man in Macroom sheltered housing as suspicious
Adds that gardaí are treating the death as suspicious, the body was found at 1pm by a home help, and the Garda Press Office said foul play was believed to be a factor. Also reports no forced entry, nothing missing, a postmortem on Wednesday, CCTV harvesting, an incident room at Macroom Garda station, and that Mr Foley was last seen alive on Saturday.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foley - 6 Feb2024Court Appearance: Discovery of A Man's Body, Macroom, Co.Cork, 6th February 2024
A woman in her 30s was arrested and charged on 14 June 2024 in the Foley murder investigation and is due before Bandon District Court that day.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, irish (judged from name)Michael Foleyaccused, 30s, female