Fears for man who slept in Ennis toilet cubicle after body found in laneway

An investigation is underway into the discovery of a man's body in Ennis in Co Clare.

The body has not been officially identified, but it is believed locally to be that of Czech national Joseph Pavelka.

The homeless man and his Polish friend Peter Baram received widespread media attention last month when Judge Patrick Durcan labelled their sleeping conditions, in a public toilet cubicle in Ennis, as a scandal.

The remains of the 55-year-old were found last night at Thompson's Lane, off O'Connell Street.

Gardaí say they are not treating the death as suspicious.