POLICE yesterday launched a murder hunt after a man from the North-East was discovered beaten to death in the Irish Republic.

Kevin French, who police said was originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, was found in the back garden of his new home in the Dublin suburb of Swords yesterday.

The 40-year-old had suffered extensive head injuries and a post mortem examination, carried out at the James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, showed he had died from a fractured skull.

It is also understood that he had been drinking on the night before he was found dead at the house at Abbeylea Green in the north of the county.

The house remained sealed off yesterday as forensic officers from the Garda Technical Bureau examined the scene.

Police said they were pursuing a definite line of inquiry.

Mr French had lived with his wife, from Dublin, in Swords for the past nine months. The couple had no children.

Mrs French found her husband slumped in the back garden at 9.30am on Tuesday.

It was initially thought he was the victim of a domestic accident before post mortem investigation tests showed a more sinister death.

Police said Mr French also suffered internal bleeding.

It is believed he incurred injuries to his hands and arms as he apparently tried to protect himself from an attack er.