Man arrested on suspicion of murder of Josephine Ray tells how he was attacked in street after release
This week her daughter Mary and her partner Hasan Ali Gori confirmed to us they were arrested on suspicion of her murder on Sunday, August 4. They were released without charge, with a file now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions
A man arrested on suspicion of the murder of Josephine Ray has told how he was attacked in the street when he was released after questioning.
Gardaí believe tragic pensioner Josephine, 89, was murdered in her own bed at her home in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
This week her daughter Mary and her partner Hasan Ali Gori confirmed to us they were arrested on suspicion of her murder on Sunday, August 4. They were released without charge, with a file now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
READ MORE: Two men arrested after Garda car rammed and multiple vehicles set on fire
The pair protested their innocence, proclaiming “We are not murderers” – and Hasan revealed he was attacked after being released from custody. Gardaí have separately confirmed to this paper that they are investigating the alleged assault.
Hasan told us: “I was attacked. This attack was after all the interviews [with Gardaí], after how many times.
“After all this they released us and said now we can go. [But] after all this interview and interrogation I got attacked at the roundabout.
“They hit me with a spanner and a bar. I was sitting on the pavement waiting because I don’t want to go to the house [Josephine’s house]. I have to respect that and keep away. But I got attacked and I went to hospital.”
In a statement to this paper, a Garda spokesperson confirmed the incident is under investigation. They added: “Gardaí responded to reports of an alleged assault at approximately 7:30pm on Sunday, 11 August 2024 in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
“One man aged in his 50s was conveyed to University Hospital Limerick for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Investigations are ongoing.”
The development comes after Hasan and Mary insisted to the Mirror that they had nothing to do with Josephine’s murder. Hasan, who says the pair are now homeless, said: “We know nothing about it. It’s a false accusation. It was upsetting to be arrested. We are both innocent.”
Mary told us: “[Gardaí] accused me, and I said I didn’t do it. Why would I do that to my own mother? I couldn’t do it like. I couldn’t do a thing like that. I loved her.”
Mary said she found her mother dead in her bed on the morning of August 4 – and was completely shocked.
She added: “It was a surprise. I was very shocked. I found her that morning. I got up that morning and I was making tea. I went to check on my mother. I left her for a while because I thought she was asleep.
“The blanket was over her mouth and I thought she was sleeping. The next time I checked on her after a while and I said, ‘Jesus’. I pulled the blanket back from her mouth and she was just not moving. I was nervous.
“I had said that’s unusual, she’s usually up and all that in the mornings. I asked her, ‘Josie do you want a tea?’ and she wasn’t answering me.”
Mary said an ambulance was called and she was later stunned to learn that gardai were investigating her mother’s death as murder. Hasan said: “We didn’t do this. I am not a murderer. We are not murderers.”
Mary added: “I did not do that. I swear to God I did not.” Hasan insisted he had gone to bed that night and never entered Josephine’s room.
He said: “I didn’t enter the room of Josephine Ray. She lived downstairs.” He claimed he discovered the front door of the house was open that morning. He added: “We found the door open in the morning. The door was not locked.”
The pair said they were now both homeless and wandering the streets – sometimes staying in hostels. Mary said: “We can’t stay in town. It’s not nice.” She also claimed people were calling Hasan names. He said it was due to “this rumour going around”.
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