Man arrested in murder of Josephine Ray previously denied involvement in pensioner's death

Sunday World

20 hours ago

Hasan Ali Gori has been in a relationship with Ms Ray's daughter, Mary Ray.
A man who has protested his innocence in relation to the murder of pensioner Josephine 'Josie' Ray was re-arrested today in connection with her killing.
Hasan Ali Gori, who is in his 50s, was arrested by Gardaí in Limerick City.
Mr Ali Gori was taken to a garda station for questioning about the murder of the 89-year old.
Mr Ali Gori has been in a relationship with Ms Ray's daughter, Mary Ray. They were both previously arrested in connection with the death of Josephine Ray. Both have said they had no involvement in the murder.
It's understood that the pensioner was assaulted and strangled. Her body was found in bed at her home at St Joseph's Park, Nenagh, on August 4, 2024.
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It recently emerged that Mr Ali Gori and Mary Ray have been living rough at rat-infested wetlands at Limerick City.
In an interview conducted at their makeshift homeless campsite last April, Mr Ali Gori and Ms Ray said they had no involvement in Josephine Ray's killing.
'I have nothing to do with this death, how is somebody accusing me of murder. I didn't do anything to anybody,' Mr Ali Gori said.
Mary Ray was also adamant she was not involved in her mother's murder: 'No I hadn't, no I hadn't, no, no, I had not, no, no.'
With rats scurrying around her, Ms Ray said: 'My mother loved me, she was mad about me, we lived together. It's very hard for me, I miss her terrible, so much.'
The couple were previously arrested on the day of her funeral, last September.
Mary Ray said she found her mother's lifeless body in bed but she said she initially thought her mother was asleep.
'I got an awful fright. Her glasses were off in the bed…I said, 'Mother, get up for your tea'.
'But she wasn't moving. I said, there's something wrong with her, she must be dead.'
Garda interactions with Josephine Ray at her home in the days before her death have been referred to Fiosru, the Garda Siochana Ombudsman, including a Garda response at her house following a report of a disturbance less than 24-hours prior to her death.
Josephine Ray was reportedly alive when Gardaí called to her home on August 3, during which a number of people were present at her home.
It is understood Gardaí had also been called to her home on several occasions during the months prior to her death in response to a number of different ­alleged complaints.
A statement released by Gardaí today said: 'A male in his 50s was arrested today in relation to this investigation. He is currently being detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
'Gardaí in Nenagh continue to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman, whose body was discovered at a residence at St Joseph's Park, Nenagh, County Tipperary, on the afternoon of Sunday, August 4, 2024.
'Investigations are ongoing.'