A MAN has been charged in relation to the fatal assault of a US tourist in a luxury Co Laois hotel. The victim was found dead at the plush Ballyfin Demesne in north Laois yesterday. It's understood that the tourist, aged in his 60s, was found dead by staff.
Gardai believe that no weapon or implement was used and were yesterday probing if he was beaten to death . A man aged in his 30s, was arrested at the hotel on Tuesday evening and has since been charged. He will appear in court this morning, cops say.
In a statement this morning, Gardai said: "Gardaí have charged the man (30s) arrested in relation to the investigation into the fatal assault of a man in Co. Laois. "He is due to appear at Portlaoise District Court this morning, Thursday 14th November 2024 at 10.
30am." It's understood that the charged man is known to the victim. It is believed the victim had only checked into the luxury hotel hours before his death.
No solid motive for the incident itself has been established. But cops were last night working to confirm if the victim had travelled over to Ireland to meet the suspect. Ballyfin Demesne is set at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains and is set across 600 acres.
Rooms at the hotel can cost up to and over €1,000 a night. It has hosted major US celebrities in the past, including George Clooney and his wife Amal as well as Kim Kardashian and Kanye West on their honeymoon in 2014. On its website, the hotel states: “Ballyfin is a place of history and romance, o.
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