Deputy pathologist examines scene of pensioner death

Deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis has examined the scene where the body of an elderly man was discovered at a sheltered housing unit in Dublin today.

He arrived at Robinson Court, Cork Street, in the south inner city, shortly before 5pm to carry out a preliminary examination at the ground floor apartment.

Paramedics who attended the scene said the elderly man had his throat cut. It is understood he was found lying slumped at the side of his bed with no clothes on and a quilt wrapped around him.

Grace Maguire, manager of services for older people at Dublin city council said she could not comment on what had now become a crime scene.

Elderly neighbours in the two storey block of around 40 council owned apartments, opposite Chamber Street Flats, hadn’t seen nor heard from the dead man since Saturday.

He is believed to be 83 years old and a native Irish speaker from the west of Ireland.

Edward Hernon who lives directly upstairs from the dead man was one of the first on the scene. He went into the apartment after hearing the home helper screaming: “He’s dead, he’s dead!”

“I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” said Mr Hernon. “He was naked except for a bit of a duvet over him.”

There were no initial signs of the apartment being disturbed or broken into, according to the neighbour.

Investigating officer Detective Superintendent P.J Brown refused to give details of the nature of the victim’s injuries.

“Because of what he saw we are treating the death as suspicious,” he said.

The body is to be removed to the city mortuary for a post mortem examination this evening.

“As yet we have not positively identified the person,” said Det. Supt. Brown. “We are appealing to anybody who was in the area or anybody who has information, that knows anybody who would have visited the deceased at 27 Robinson’s Court, if they could contact us at Kevin Street Garda Station (01 – 6669400).

“An incident room has been set up there and we’re treating the death as suspicious. We may upgrade it later on after the post-mortem (examination)”.

There was an unconfirmed sighting of the victim late yesterday evening according to Det Supt Brown.

Local TD Michael Mulcahy said he had been campaigning for some time for increased security at the sheltered housing complex.

“Robinson’s Court has not been top of the agenda for the city council,” he said. “There are other communities which are gated and more monitored.”