Gardaí have issued a renewed appeal for information on the murder of 81-year-old Michael Crowe at his home in Kildare in 2009.

Mr Crowe died after a fire broke out at his family home in Pairc Mhuire, Newbridge, County Kildare on the 4th October, 2009.

Gardaí said a loud bang was heard at around 6am before the fire broke out.

While members of Mr Crowe's family escaped the house, he was unable to do so and died later from the injuries he sustained in the fire.

investigators have taken nearly 700 statements and carried out hundreds of lines of inquiry in the years since.

Today, gardaí issued a renewed appeal for information - adding that the investigation is live, ongoing and subject to ongoing review.

Speaking on KFM, Garda Inspector Mel Smyth made this appeal to the members of the public:

"Think about their own grandparent, their own parent; think of an 81-year-old man fighting for his life,” he said.

“Think of their own conscience and come forward.

“Someone out there knows what happened. Someone out there knows that there was a target that night or there was something going on in Newbridge.

“The smallest bit of information might help and I am asking that person to come forward and let us know. The information will be treated confidentially.”

Inspector Smith appealed particularly to anyone who may have been in or around Pairc Mhuire estate on the morning of Sunday 4th October, 2009 between 2am and 6am to get in contact.

"All information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and we urge anyone who has any information even if they believe it to be insignificant or trivial to get in contact with us," he said. 

Gardaí at Newbridge Garda Station can be contacted at 045 440180, and members of the public can also contact the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666111 or any Garda Station.