Refugee beaten to death 'would not hurt a fly', says cousin in appeal for justice

Adnan Asic, 60, was attacked in the early hours of Saturday, October 22, 2022, as he was walking home after a night out socialising in West Dublin.

The only living relative of a Bosnian refugee who was beaten to death in Dublin three years ago has appealed for justice for his cousin, saying he is “still haunted over the way he died”.

Adnan Asic, aged 60, was attacked in the early hours of Saturday, October 22, 2022, as he was walking home after a night out socialising in West Dublin.

Mr Asic had fled the Bosnian war in the 1990s and sought refuge in Ireland, where he had living “peacefully” for almost 30 years.

Earlier this month, gardaí arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the death. He was released without charge, and a file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In his first interview, the deceased's cousin Ahmet Dracic, who gave evidence at his inquest, said he continues to “suffer nightmares” over his death.

“I am still devastated” he told the Irish Examiner. "He did not deserve the way he died.

“I left Bosnia before him in 1996; I went to Croatia, and we were sent to Ireland for refuge. My cousin came after me.

We both lived in Dublin, and he was a very peaceful kind man

“He never had a family here, no wife or children.  He only had me. He would not hurt a fly. We were very close; he was a good guy. We took care of each other.”

Mr Asic, of Castlecurragh Heath, Blanchardstown, was found lying on the ground with serious injuries on the night of this death at a junction off the Old Navan Rd and Blanchardstown Rd North at 2.15am.

Gardaí at the scene in Blanchardstown where they are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the death of Adnan Asic in 2022. File Picture: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Emergency services were called to the scene and he was rushed to nearby Connolly Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Gardaí said the victim had left the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre area with a friend to return home.

He was later captured on CCTV walking past Starbucks Café and the Crown Plaza Hotel in the direction of the Blanchardstown slip road.

Blunt force trauma

Mr Dracic gave evidence at his inquest in 2023, which heard autopsy results showed Mr Asic suffered blunt force trauma injuries to his chest and shoulder.

The coroner granted an application by gardaí for an adjournment of the inquest at the time on the basis that criminal proceedings were being considered in relation to his death.

Mr Dracic had been at a party with his cousin on the night in Blanchardstown before they went there separate ways.

“I got a call from my friend the next day, he said the gardaí were looking for me and I went to the station.

They told me my cousin was dead and was beaten to death. I was in so much shock

"I had to go to the morgue in Whitehall to identify him. He was covered in bruises, he had been hit on the side of face, hit on the back of head also. You would not do this to a dog.

“I was devastated. I’m still devastated. I have a pain in my heart, gardaí are trying to solve this and they contact me with updates."

M Dracic said he just wants to see justice done for his cousin. 

"I just want who did this to be found. We made the life for ourselves in Ireland, which is a lovely place. I love this country, it is my home now."

In a statement, the garda press office said: “The man, 40s, arrested in connection with this investigation has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing.”