A murder inquiry is under way in Co Sligo after a 41-year-old man was found with "significant physical injuries" in the town yesterday evening.
The victim has been named locally as Aidan Moffitt, who was well-known in local business circles.
It is understood Mr Moffitt’s body had been mutilated.
Gardaí are investigating if there was a hate-related motive to the killing and whether Mr Moffitt met his attacker online.
Officers were called to his home in Cartron Heights at around 8.30pm last night.
They were alerted by friends of Mr Moffitt, who became concerned when they were unable to make contact with him.
The scene was preserved overnight and was subject to detailed forensic analysis throughout the day.
This evening, his body was brought to University Hospital Sligo where a post-mortem examination will take place.
Mr Moffitt was originally from Co Roscommon and worked in the financial services sector.
As detectives carried out door-to-door inquiries around the area, floral tributes were placed near his home.
Mr Moffitt also canvassed for Fine Gael during a number of election campaigns in recent years.
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Today, his friend and party colleague Blaine Gaffney paid tribute to him, saying he was shocked to his core at news of Mr Moffitt's death.
He said: "It came out of the blue last night and we're all in total shock - we just can't believe what we’re hearing and learning about what happened to Aidan.
"He was a well-known person around these parts, a local businessman, [who was] very outgoing".
Mr Gaffney recalled his friend’s love for horse racing and recounted the many times they had campaigned together during local and general election campaigns.
He said the entire community had been numbed by his death.
Those sentiments were echoed by John Keane, a neighbour of Mr Moffitt.
He said that his fellow county man was "one of those guys you could go to and ask him about anything. He was a great friend to have".
Gardaí are appealing for anyone who was in Cartron Heights or the general Cartron area yesterday afternoon up until 8.30pm, and who saw anything which drew their attention, to come forward.
Gardaí can be contacted at a dedicated phone number at the incident room in Sligo Garda Station on 071 9157088, on the Garda Confidential Line phone number on 1800 666 111, or at any garda station.
As part of their appeal gardaí also issued safety advice for people intending to meet others online.
An Garda Síochána are issuing the following safety advice to people who are speaking with or intending to meet up with someone they have met online.
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) April 12, 2022
Take precautions before meeting someone in person. If an emergency unfolds, call 999! See more here: https://t.co/UiIFGVw8NF pic.twitter.com/wwvnJOAn4m
