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Police probe robbery motive:
08.09.09
Greencastle man killed
in Portugal
Linda McGrory
GREENCASTLE, Derry and wider North West have been
stunned by the violent death of a well known
businessman on a golfing holiday in Portugal.
The badly beaten body of Paul Houston, 51, president
of Greencastle Golf Club, was found in the fishing
village of Alvor in the Algarve at 5am on Sunday.
Police are investigating the possibility he was set
upon by two men as he made his way back to the
holiday accommodation he was sharing with his wife
Celine and another local couple. |
It is understood the
four were socialising earlier in the evening but Mr
Houston stayed on a bit later. He was reported
missing by his wife and friends, Philip and Marian
Devlin, when he failed to return to their
accommodation. Meanwhile, police were alerted to the
incident following an anonymous call from a member
of the public at 5am.
When they arrived at the scene - a riverside walkway
in Alvor - they found a man lying on the street but
he was already deceased. Mr Houston's body was taken
to the Institute of Legal Medicine at Portimao
District Hospital for autopsy. The case has now been
handed over to the Polícia Judiciária - |
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the special
investigative police - who have yet to launch a
formal murder investigation. However, Polícia
Judiciária spokesperson Anna Mourao last night said:
"At this point, we think that it may have been an
attempted robbery. The man was beaten to death but
we do not know at this time if any weapons were used
in the attack. We are waiting for the results of the
autopsy." Ms Mourao said police were also
investigating reports that the two attackers spoke
with Brazilian accents. It has been reported locally
that an English houseboat resident nearby heard a
lot of commotion at the time of the incident.
Meanwhile, Gardaí in Buncrana confirmed they have
been in contact with the family and are providing as
much assistance as possible. The Garda spokesperson
said they would also liaise with Interpol regarding
the investigation. The Department of Foreign Affairs
confirmed that the Irish Embassy in Lisbon is
providing consular assistance to the Houston family. |
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A father of four, Paul
Houston was a much-loved member of the local
community in Greencastle and Derry. He ran the
family designer shoe shop, Houston's on Strand Road,
Derry, and was a long-time member of Greencastle
Golf Club. Well known for his kindness and
fun-loving personality, he was the father of three
sons and one |
daughter and had one grandchild.
The Houston family issued a statement through their
solicitor yesterday. His brothers Kevin and Terry
said the family were devastated.
"Paul was a very special person and his loss is
devastating to our family, his many friends and the
community in which he lived and served.
"All of the relevant authorities are working very
hard to ensure the return of his remains as quickly
as possible. We are very grateful for their
assistance to the family at this sad time," they
added. Locals were shaken yesterday as news of his
sudden death spread throughout the community.
Greencastle Golf Club's honorary secretary Joe
McCafferty described Mr Houston as a "fantastic
ambassador" for the club and said the members were
"devastated" by his death.
"Paul has been a lifelong member of the club and was
our youngest captain in 1995. He was very highly
regarded and hugely popular among golfers in the
North West and much further afield. He played on
many of our club teams and was widely known in
golfing circles," said Mr McCafferty.
"Paul contributed unstintingly to every facet of
life at Greencastle Golf Club and devoted so much of
his time to the growth of our club over the years.
He will be remembered with affection because of his
love of life and his gregarious personality. "He was
a talented entertainer who was always willing to put
himself forward and had a generous welcome for
everyone with whom he came into contact.
"He was a fantastic ambassador for our club and he
will be most sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers
go to his wife Celine and his family and to all his
wide circle of friends." Paul is predeceased by his
father Bernard and is survived by his wife and grown
up children David, Christopher, Amy and Tom, his
grandchild, mother Mavis, two brothers, Kevin and
Terry and sister Jennifer. |
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