A major inquiry has been launched after a man’s body was found concealed under tarpaulin.
Gardai have identified a chief suspect after fortune teller Stefan Posschier died in “violent” circumstances at his home at Rattin, between Kinnegad and Milltownpass, in Co Westmeath.
A relative, who also lives in the area, raised the alarm before 6pm on Tuesday after making the grim discovery.
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The Irish Mirror has learned there were efforts to conceal the body, which was found at the rear of the property. On the same evening, gardai located a man known to the victim in Co Carlow who they have identified as the chief suspect in the case.
Although he has not been arrested in relation to the death, he has spoken to detectives. The suspect is known to gardai and sources say he has previously threatened to kill.
On Wednesday night, a postmortem on Mr Posschier’s remains was taking place at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore, Co Offaly, to establish how he met his death.
Garda headquarters said the results of this will determine the course of the investigation. But sources told the Irish Mirror the victim died in violent circumstances and they expect the case will be upgraded to a murder inquiry.
A source said: “A definite line of inquiry is being followed. One individual has been identified and he is the chief suspect. At this stage, no one else is being looked for.
“The victim died violently and the examination of the scene also raised other suspicions with evidence of trying to conceal the body. Forensic evidence has been gathered from inside and outside the property which will also be examined and assist with the investigation.”
Gardai are also working to establish Mr Posschier’s movements in recent days, in particular on Tuesday and his communications by phone.
Originally from Belgium and aged in his 60s, the victim had lived in the area for over 20 years and before that had an address in Dublin. He was well-known and popular as he worked as a fortune teller, psychic and medium.
The victim – who used the stage name Stefan De Guylian – did the work across a number of venues in Westmeath including in Mullingar and Kinnegad.
Yesterday a woman said her friend had an appointment with him in the coming weeks. Mr Posschier’s neighbours told how they did not know him personally but often met him driving along the rural road where he lived.
One told how they saw his red car outside the house on Sunday but noticed it wasn’t there on Tuesday evening when gardai had arrived.
He said: “You’d often meet Stefan on the road and he would stop and chat away. I noticed the red car he drove wasn’t there yesterday but it had definitely been there on Sunday.
“Stefan was a sound man. He wore all these chains and rings. He’d encourage you to go to his fortune telling as well.”
Another woman living in the area explained: “I didn’t hear a thing until I saw the gardai pull up and the tape at either end of the road.
“He was a nice man by all accounts but I didn’t know him too well to be honest. When he passed in the car, I’d wave and say, ‘Hi’. That’s about it really. But it’s very sad to hear the news.”
On Wednesday, a number of Mr Posschier’s relatives living in Ireland were being comforted while his family in Belgium were also notified.
Garda Technical Bureau officers worked for most of the day at the scene gathering evidence. At 11.45am, the body was removed and brought for the postmortem.
Door-to-door inquiries were also made but neighbours had not been aware of any incident until gardai were called.
The investigation is being led by officers in Mullingar. An update from Garda headquarters is expected on Thursday.
A spokesman said: “The outcome of a postmortem examination will determine the course of the investigation. No additional information is available at this time.”
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