Gardaí have ruled out foul play in the death of a young man whose body was found near the grounds of a Cork castle.
The move came after a post mortem examination was completed on the remains of Jack O’Donovan (28).
The body of Mr O’Donovan was discovered by a golf course near the grounds of Macroom Castle shortly before 9.30am on Friday.
He was discovered by a passerby who immediately alerted the emergency services.
The young man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gardaí notified the Office of the State Pathologist and a post mortem examination was carried out on Saturday at Cork University Hospital (CUH).
The precise results of the post mortem examination are not being released.
However, gardaí are not treating the death as suspicious.
A file will be prepared for the Cork Coroner for an inquest to be staged next year.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses as they attempt to trace the last known movements of the young man.
The deceased was 28-years-old and from Dan Corkery Place in Macroom.
Detectives also want to determine precisely when the man died.
A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) was appointed and an incident room had been established at Macroom Garda Station.
A Family Liaison Officer (FLO) was also appointed to provide support to the family, gardaí said.
“Gardaí are interested in speaking with any person who may have been in the vicinity of Golf Club, Castle Grounds, Macroom Co Cork between 2pm on Thursday (October 22) and 10am on Friday, (October 23),” a garda spokesperson said.
“Any road users or pedestrians who were in the area and who may have camera footage (including mobile phone and dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.
“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Macroom Garda Station on (026) 20590, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”
The area where the body was found was preserved to allow for a full technical and forensic examination.
CCTV security camera footage will be studied from business and residential premises in the town to try to determine the young man’s last known movements.
The area involved is just a short distance from Macroom town centre and detectives are hopeful that CCTV footage will shed light on the man’s movements in the hours before his death.
Mr O’Donovan’s death was greeted with shock throughout the Cork town.
Cork North West TD John Paul O’Shea said it was “shocking news”.
“All I can say is that my thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and neighbours of this young man,” he said.
The Fine Gael official said the gardaí would receive enormous support within the tightknit community for their investigation.
Funeral arrangements for Mr O’Donovan are expected to be confirmed next week.
The young man was prayed for at all Masses in his native Macroom.