Gardai investigating whether Cork murder was linked to drug debt as man arrested

Gardaí have arrested a man in his thirties.

A man in his thirties is currently being detained at a Garda Station in the Southern Region under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

Investigators are examining whether a drugs gang ordered the killing of a man because he owed them money. 

Paul ‘Bosco’ O’Connor (56) was from Connolly Road in Ballyphehane, on the southside of Cork city.

He was shot twice in the head at close range and his body was left in grassland just off a walking path which is popular with walkers and dog owners.

The investigation has focused on elements of his life in the drugs trade.

Gardaí have requested that anyone who was near Mallow town or the banks of the river between 7.20pm on Wednesday 14 October and 1.30pm on Thursday 15 October 2026 to make contact with them.

Any road users or pedestrians who were in the area and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Mallow Garda Station on (022) 31450, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.

Drug intimidation has become a media talking point in the last weeks due to unrelated attacks in other places in the country.