Grandad's murder was 'cowardly and violent'

Detectives hunting the killer of Mike Holleran have made a fresh appeal for information as friends spoke of their shock at the murder of the "quiet and gentle" retired electrician.

The 56-year-old was found dead in his Murrayburn Gardens flat after council workers who had called to carry out a routine maintenance check raised the alarm when his door was not answered.

Police will not speculate on a motive for the killing but confirmed the grandfather-of-two's home was not broken into.

A man detained and interviewed in connection with the death has been released pending further inquiries.

Officers are now focusing on the 24-hours from when Mr Holleran was last seen alive to when his body was found at around 6pm on Tuesday.

It has now emerged that Mr Holleran was looking to move into sheltered housing because he could not look after himself after a stroke and the death of his wife last year.

Detective Chief Inspector John Walker, who is leading the investigation, appealed for anyone who saw Mr Holleran or heard noises from his flat to come forward.

He said: "There's no doubt that this was a violent, cowardly attack. We are still in the very early stages of the investigation and still trying to work out what his last movements were.

"We are looking for anyone who can help us with that because we are trying to account for that 24-hour period where we don't know what happened to him.

"We do know he got taxis from his home every morning to the Sighthill Bowling Club during the week.

"The post-mortem confirms this was a violent attack."

Mr Holleran - described as a fanatical Celtic supporter who would walk with a green and white walking stick - was said to carry large amounts of money around with him.

However, police would not say whether his death was connected to a robbery.

Friends paid tribute to Mr Holleran.

Greg Walker, a trustee at the BMC social club in Gorgie, to which Mr Holleran went, said: "Michael was a quiet, gentle soul. He certainly didn't deserve this after the couple of years he has had.

"He had to retire from his job as an electrician with the health board after his stroke, and then last year he lost his wife.

"He was never the same person after that."

Alan Scott, bar manager at Sighthill Bowling Club, said: "He used to come in every Sunday for a couple of drinks. He was a nice guy who loved to watch the bowling and the football on the telly."

Friend and bowling club colleague Mungo Reid, 72, added: "He was saying on Sunday that he was looking for sheltered housing because he could no longer look after himself."

Mr Holleran's son Sean, who lives in Currie, was too upset to speak about his father's death.