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Man found murdered
From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Wednesday 29th Jan 2003.
A MURDER inquiry was launched today after the body of a teenager was discovered near a pub.
Eamonn McDonagh, 17, who was from a family of travellers living near Ewood, was found by his family at 6am today at the back of the Moorings, Bolton Road, Blackburn.
Police were today trying to trace four youths who had a "verbal altercation" with Mr McDonagh and a friend shortly before his death. It is the second murder inquiry conducted in the Infirmary area of Blackburn in the past fortnight.
On January 12, 26 year-old Iraqi Kurd asylum seeker Mokhler Mostafa was found dead in Infirmary Street just a few hundred yards away from where the latest body was discovered. Police said Mr McDonagh had been out with a friend in Blackburn and Accrington last night.
He returned home to his caravan near the Moorings in the early hours but then went out again with the same friend.
They said Mr McDonagh and his friend ran away from the four youths after an argument broke out.
His friend reached the caravan first and alerted his family that they had been chased.
Mr McDonagh's family went to search and found him with a serious head injury. He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary by members of his family but later died.
An area at the back of the pub near where the caravan is parked was sealed off today as forensic officers carried out a detailed search.
Detectives said they were searching for a murder weapon as his injuries indicated that he had been hit with something. A post mortem examination was scheduled to be carried out later today.
The murder inquiry was being headed by Det Supt Ian Jones and officers were setting up an incident room.
Mr Jones said: "Mr McDonagh and his friend ran back together but got separated.
"It is at this point Mr McDonagh received his injuries. His friend got back to the caravan and reported Mr McDonagh missing. His family went to search for him and found him.
"We would like to appeal to members of the public who know Mr McDonagh and in particularly we want to speak to those four youths or anyone who may have seen these four youths."
It is not believed Mr McDonagh had been in the Moorings last night.
Anthony Whalley, who has run the Moorings with his wife Geraldine for the last ten months, said: "I didn't see or hear anything.
"We only had two people in the pub last night and I was shocked when I woke this morning to find the police here."
Anyone with information should call Blackburn police on 01254 51212, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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