A man found dead in one of Ireland’s most exclusive hotels was an American who had only checked into the hotel hours before a suspected fatal assault, it is understood. The man, who was in his 60s, was found in the leisure centre of the luxury Ballyfin Demesne hotel in Co Laois on Tuesday night after 8pm. Celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and George Clooney have previously stayed at the exclusive hotel.
An autopsy was carried out on Tuesday. No weapons were used in the suspected fatal assault, it is understood. Another US citizen, a man in his 30s who was well-known to the victim, was arrested and is currently being held for questioning.
Gardaí have 24 hours to question him. Gardaí said on Thursday that the man "remains detained". The two men had travelled to Ireland together and were guests at the hotel, it is understood.
Gardaí are following a definite line of inquiry and are currently not looking for anyone else in connection with the suspected fatal assault. The deceased, a US citizen, may have had some Irish heritage, it is understood. Ballyfin Demesne is a five-star luxury country house set across 600 acres at the foot of the Slieve Bloom mountains.
Rooms often cost in excess of €1,000 a night. The Irish Examiner contacted Ballyfin Demesne for comment. The local community is “in total shock” following the death, local independent councillor James Kelly said.
“There’s a cloud hanging over Ballyfin today,” he said..
