Cash Probe GAA Official Found Dead

A man under investigation by gardai over the disappearance of over €140,000 from GAA ticket sales has been found dead.

The body of the pensioner, Denis Hanrahan, was found in a hayshed yesterday afternoon.

Last night gardai were examining the circumstances of the tragic death of the 70-year-old, a former official with the GAA's east county board in Waterford.

Gardaí have said they are not looking for anybody else in connection with their inquiries.

Detectives were due to interview Mr Hanrahan after a complaint last Monday by the GAA, alleging the misappropriation of All Ireland ticket monies.

Mr Hanrahan, who was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Waterford county board, resigned from his positions with the GAA after gardaí were called in to investigate a shortfall of €140,000 from €450,000 in ticket-takings, which had been lodged into the clubs bank account.

The GAA authorities in the county had also instructed their solicitors to issue their own legal proceedings against Mr Hanrahan after internal talks failed to uncover the missing cash.

Mr Hanrahan, who lived at Brown Street, in Portlaw, Co Waterford was found in a derelict hayshed shortly after 2pm on Thursday, in a wooded area at Stokestown, near New Ross, Co Wexford.

After gardai were called to the scene, the body was removed to Waterford regional hospital for a post-mortem examination today.

A GAA spokesman last night described Mr Hanrahan's death as a tragedy. " Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time," he said.

He is survived by one son, in his mid-30s.

Last night gardai said their inquiries into the missing money were still at an early stage and there was no evidence yet to establish what had happened to the funds.

(DW)