Gardaí treating unidentified man’s death as murder

GARDAÍ last night confirmed they were treating the violent death of a man last Friday as murder. Garda sources said they have not been able to identify the man.

The man was found in the remains of a derelict church in an area close to Waterstone Park in Palmerstown by a passer-by on Friday night.

The place where he was found is known to be frequented by drinkers, mainly teenagers, from time to time.

Garda sources also said that the man had “multiple stab wounds” and that he had been killed with “some sort of sharp instrument”.

The man, who is aged in his early to mid-30s, received stab wounds to his face and body.

Detectives believe he was possibly dead for 24 to 48 hours.

Gardaí suspect that the man may have been homeless. Detectives are investigating the possibility that the man is a foreign national. He has not been identified by detectives. Gardaí will consider taking further steps in an attempt to identify him in the next day or so.

This may include releasing a photograph of the deceased.

A Garda spokesman yesterday said that gardaí were appealing for the public’s help in trying to identify the man.

“He is described as in his 30s, about 6’1”, strong build, was clean-shaven, and he had a very tight haircut,” the garda spokesman said.

“The man was wearing a brown Gap t-shirt, with the word Gap written across the front, black jeans, white runners and a silver Casio G-Shock watch.”

Speaking near the crime scene on Saturday, Superintendent John Quirke, who is leading the investigation, said the man was of “very heavy build, 15 stone-plus” and had “distinctive blue eyes”.

Gardaí are hoping the detailed description will register with people who knew him.

It is not known whether the difficulties in establishing the man’s identity is because he was a homeless drinker.

Gardaí are understood to be examining this theory and are trying to identify and make contact with local street drinkers, as well as voluntary groups and doctors who might have dealings with them.

A large Garda search, involving up to 100 officers, was carried out in the area on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 6667200 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666111.

Meanwhile, a man shot in Donegal last Thursday was said to be in a stable condition in Letterkenny General Hospital yesterday.

The 26-year-old man was in a car with his girlfriend along the border with Derry at Transallagh, St Johnston, when up to four masked men approached the car and opened fire, hitting him in the neck.