Shock over death of 'kind and hard-working' Ukrainian man who died in Cork

Andre Nesterov, 49, had escaped war in his hometown of Kherson, Ukraine, for a safer life in Ireland. He had just bought a ticket to Poland where he was to be reunited with his wife and their three children

Gardaí said that the autopsy’s results will determine the course of the investigation. File picture: Denis Minihane

A man who died in suspicious circumstances in Cork on Sunday morning was due to reunite with his wife and children in the coming weeks after they were separated by the war in Ukraine.

Andre Nesterov, 49, had escaped war in his hometown of Kherson, Ukraine, for a safer life in Ireland.

He was described as ‘kind, friendly and hard-working’ by fellow Ukrainians who were staying with him in a Cork hotel close to where he was found unresponsive at 2.30am on October 8.

He had just bought a ticket to Poland where he was to be reunited with his wife and their three children — one daughter and two sons — before he was found unresponsive near Cork Airport early on Sunday morning.

It is understood that he had sustained visible injuries and that he was found near a stationary vehicle.

Investigating gardaí arrested a woman in her 40s in relation to the incident on Monday. She is being held at Togher Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, which allows suspects to be held for up to 24 hours.

Vitalii Iogvinenko, who had been living with Mr Nesterov and other Ukrainian refugees in the Cork Airport Hotel, said they are in shock. “We just found out this morning. There is a lot of sadness," said Mr Iogvinenko.

“It’s very difficult news. Everyone is very shocked. He was a communicative person, he’d ask people how their day was, how work was.

He was kind and hard-working. He always tried to help people. He was friendly.

Mr Nesterov had recently bought a ticket to go to Poland and bring his family back to Ireland with him, he said. “He moved to Ireland because he thought it was safe,” said Vladyslaw Voloshyn, who had also been staying at the same hotel as Mr Nesterov.

Another woman who did not want to be named said that Mr Nesteov was “a good man”. He had been working in a bakery in Ballincollig before his death, she said.

Mr Nesterov had been found unresponsive near Cork Airport Hotel. He was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 

An autopsy was to take place on Monday. Gardaí said that the autopsy’s results will determine the course of the investigation.

Mr Nesterov is understood to have sought asylum from Ukraine. He was living in the Cork Airport Hotel which is currently housing Ukrainian refugees fleeing war.

Gardaí said that they are "investigating all the circumstances surrounding the death".