Murder inquiry after charred remains found
The man’s charred remains were found in a wooded area after his sleeping bag went on fire overnight on Thursday.
Autopsy results confirmed he died as a result of severe burn injuries, but did not indicate how the fire might have started. Further tests are being conducted.
Last night Garda sources said the man was assaulted before he was set on fire.
The man’s body was near a wooded area off the Wellington Road, beside the Wellington Monument.
Detectives are trying to locate other homeless people, who might have been sleeping with him or in the same area of Phoenix Park, who might be able to shed light on what happened.
Supt David Taylor of the Garda Press Office last night described how a passing Garda patrol was first alerted to the blaze. “It was quite an extensive fire. When our members got to the area the body was fully engulfed in a fire. The assistance of Dublin Fire Brigade was requested and despite their best efforts they could not save him.”
“The results of the post mortem will be critical but at the moment we don’t know how it [fire] started.”
He added: “State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy visited the scene and carried out a preliminary examination. The body was removed to the city morgue where a full post mortem is under way.”
He issued two appeals for help: “I’m appealing to any person or persons between 4pm on Thursday evening and 1am this morning: ‘Did you see any unusual or suspicious activity in this area close to the Wellington monument?’
“I’m also appealing to any person who may have a friend, relative or associate who is homeless or has that lifestyle and they haven’t seen that person in the last 24 hours: Come forward to Cabra Garda Station.
“We are working closely with both the statutory and non-statutory bodies who deal with the homeless in a bid to identify this person.”
Supt Taylor explained the fire was so extensive that identifying the remains is proving difficult.
“Due to the extensive nature of the fire visual identification has not been possible. I can confirm he is a male and he had been in a sleeping bag. Other than that I cannot provide any personal details. It could be your friend, it could be your neighbour, it could be a relative of yours that you haven’t seen in the last 24 hours.”
