'A true gentleman':  Tributes to retired farmer found dead near Bandon

Retired farmer Augustine (Gus) Dempsey, 77, lost his home in a fire months ago

Gus Dempsey. Picture courtesy of the Southern Star

Tributes have been paid to Augustine (Gus) Dempsey, the retired farmer who was found dead on a road outside Bandon.

Mr Dempsey is late of Horsehill, Ballinadee and of Ballymountain, Innishannon.

"So sorry to hear of Gussie's passing.A true gentleman.Always cheerful and chatty.RIP Gussie," a friend wrote in tribute.

"Sincere condolences to Anthony, Mary and the Dempsey family on the sad passing of Gus. May he rest in peace," another paid tribute.

Gardaí are continuing to appeal to witnesses to come forward with any information on the events leading up to retired farmer Gus Dempsey being found dead on a road outside Bandon.

Mr Dempsey, 77, from Ballinadee, near Bandon, became homeless in May when a fire destroyed his house and all his possessions.

Around 6.30am on Saturday morning, another road user spotted a bicycle in the middle of the road and Mr Dempsey’s body at the side of the road in the Kildarra area of Bandon. Emergency services were alerted immediately.

Gardaí are investigating the circumstances and are considering all lines of inquiry. They are also appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Mr Dempsey was featured in a recent edition of the Southern Star newspaper where he said that he farmed all his life and wanted to stay living in the countryside.

He said of the fire at his home said that he was fortunate not to have been at home when the fire occurred at his rural property.

“Thank God I was out when the fire took hold but it has left me without anything. All the top floor went. There was smoke and water damage and everything downstairs was destroyed. It is gone."

Alan Coleman, Independent councillor for Bandon, described Mr Dempsey’s death as a tragedy.

“He was very eloquent. A very pleasant man who was very well liked locally,” Mr Coleman said. “It’s a tragedy. To have someone like that die in the middle of our community is very sad."

Mr Coleman had been helping Mr Dempsey since he lost his home and was working to secure a modular unit for him so he could remain in the area.

“The housing problem is hitting every community now,” Mr Coleman said.

A bachelor, Mr Dempsey grew up on a farm in Innishannon and worked as a farmer in his youth.

His situation was recently raised in the Dáil by Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins.

“There’s no social housing in West Cork. I think maybe two units came up in the past ten weeks,” Mr Collins told the Dáil.

“Gus is homeless today. His house burned down, his neighbour, who was brilliant, gave him a place to move into, but their family is coming home, and he has to be out by a certain date.

“Now he has no home, he doesn’t know if he’ll be sleeping on the street. That man is in an awful situation because he could end up in a nursing home when he doesn’t need to be in a nursing home.

This is the crisis that we have in this country.

Gardaí in Bandon are continuing their investigation into Mr Dempsey's death. The coroner was notified and a postmortem is to be carried out to determine the course of the Garda investigation.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bandon Garda Station on 023 885 2200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.