JOSEPHINE SUSPECT SAYS HE'S INNOCENT...

THE suspect rearrested over the murder of a pensioner today insists: "They've got the wrong man.

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

Gardai last week arrested former asylum seeker Hassan Ali Gori on suspicion of the murder of Josephine Ray, 89.

They suspect she was strangled to death in her bed at her home in St Joseph's Park in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, on August 4 last year.

Hassan, who is originally from Chad and says he became an Irish citizen in 2017, then lived with Josephine and her daughter Mary Ray - who is his long-term girlfriend.

Last August both he and Mary were arrested in connection with the murder - and later identified themselves as the suspects in the case when approached by this paper on the streets of Nenagh.

Last week investigators rearrested Hassan, on the foot of new evidence - before releasing him without charge and sending a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Speaking today, Hassan told this paper that he did not murder the well-loved grandmother, and explained how gardai spoke to him about hand-prints.

"They show me something, they say something like a print, a mark from the hands. So I say to them this is a lady that does not take a shower. In five or six months she had not taken a shower," he said.

He also spoke about handing over all of his clothing to detectives and said: "I do not see any reason that anyone will charge me with murder. I did my best to tell them all that I know. I told you that I'm not the murderer.

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