Man (20s) arrested over murder of vulnerable pensioner

Gardaí investigating the murder of a vulnerable man in his north Co Dublin home late last year have arrested a man for questioning. The arrested man, who is in his 20s, was detained on Monday and was being questioned about the murder of Christopher Hall (65) in Balbriggan last November.

Mr Hall, who had an acquired brain injury, was discovered dead in his home by one of his adult daughters who had gone to check on him when she was unable to reach him. It later emerged he had been assaulted at or around the time of his death.

On Monday gardaí arrested a man, who was being held at Balbriggan Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. His arrest is the first since the investigation into Mr Hall’s killing began six months ago.

Mr Hall, a father of two, was found dead in his house on Dun Saithne Green, Balbriggan, just after lunchtime on Wednesday, November 24th.

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While his death was initially treated as “unexplained”, gardaí established he was killed by an attacker, likely armed with a knife or sharp implement, who inflicted fatal head and upper body injuries on the victim. Mr Hall was vulnerable due to the brain injury, which he had suffered in an accident.

While it did not appear anything had been taken from the house, gardaí did not rule out the possibility the killer went into the property intending to steal money or to pressure Mr Hall into giving them money.

The alarm was raised via a call to 999 just before 2pm on November 24th after Mr Hall daughter found her father’s body at the house.

When gardaí arrived at the scene members of Dublin Fire Brigade were already in the house, where Mr Hall's body was found in the downstairs area.

"He had obvious significant head and upper body injuries. Christopher was pronounced dead at the scene," Supt Paul Franey of Balbriggan Garda station said at the time. "Christopher lived alone at the house, he was a quiet man, kept himself to himself, and he was vulnerable due to a medical condition."

The man arrested on Monday can be questioned for up to 24 hours without charge.