Gardaí are keeping an open mind about the discovery of a man’s body in a hotel near Carrickmacross, Monaghan yesterday. 

They believe that the 25-year-old died from a head injury but are investigating how it happened. 

It is understood the man was an asylum seeker from Nigeria and had only recently arrived in Ireland. 

“There was an incident on Halloween night [and] Gardaí were called,” Irish Times Security and Crime Editor Conor Lally told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“There was a row between several men; Gardaí were called and when they arrived, the situation had calmed down and there was no intervention then required by the local Gardaí. 

“But the guards, at this stage, in Carrickmacross are trying to establish whether there’s any connection between that incident the previous evening and the man’s remains being found yesterday morning.” 

Gardaí are examining hotel CCTV and a post-mortem examination is being carried out today. 

Amil, another resident at the hotel, described the death as "a shock for everyone."

"He was new here," he told Newstalk. 

"I talked to him just one time and he was a good man."

The deceased’s family members are currently being traced; he will not be named until that process is complete.

Main image: A member of An Garda Síochána. Picture by: RollingNews.ie