Investigation continues into murder of former youth international footballer

The Gardaí said that “for operational reasons” they would not publish the results of the autopsy on the body of a man who died after being robbed in Limerick city over the weekend.

Alan Bourke, 48, who was capped by the Republic of Ireland youth football team in the 1990s, was found unconscious and seriously injured at Colbert Station Plaza, Parnell Street, at around 10:25pm, Friday night.

He was rushed by ambulance to Limerick University Hospital, where he died shortly after.

It is understood that Mr. Bourke died of serious head injuries. The scene of the assault was marked on Sunday by bouquets of flowers.

Limerick city had been particularly busy on Friday night with traveling rugby fans socializing ahead of the Munster versus Exeter match on Saturday.

Gardaí believe multiple people may have witnessed the fatal assault and have again asked anyone with mobile phone video or dash cam footage to make it available to them.

The Gardaí would not comment on the investigation other than to confirm that it was ongoing and no arrests had been made, but a spokesman said: “We can confirm that Dr. Sally Ann Collis, the state pathologist, completed a post-mortem examination, the results that are not being released for operational reasons at this time.”

Tributes were paid over the weekend to Mr. Bourke, a native of St Mary’s Park, who was a well-known sportsman in the 1990s.

He is remembered as a talented striker with Mungret Regional FC and a skilled rugby player with St Mary’s Rugby Club.

Limerick football correspondent Mike Aherne said: “Alan was synonymous with the glory days of Mungret Regional and was regarded as one of the league’s leading strikers, for which he earned well-deserved recognition, culminating in his involvement in the Republic of Ireland youth football team”. .

Speaking on behalf of Bourke’s former teammates and friends at Mungret Regional Club chairman Tony O’Byrne said: “Alan was definitely a big part of the team back then, he would have scored 20+ goals a season, he wore the club shirt. number 9 jersey, he was a real goal poacher, and he was a really talented player for the club.”

A minute of silence was observed at district football games throughout the city and county on Sunday as a mark of respect.

Bourke’s friends, some of whom have paid tribute to him on social media, said he had spent time living in Cork but had recently returned to his native Limerick in search of accommodation.

He had “gone through some tough times” and was struggling with addiction in recent years, they said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roxboro Road Garda Station on 061 214 340, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.