Teen faces charge for homeless man’s death

AN 18-year-old man will appear in Dublin District Court today where he will be charged in connection with the murder of a middle-aged homeless man, who was beaten to death close to his former home in a residential suburb of Dublin.

The body of David Sutherland, a widower with no children, was discovered early on Sunday morning by a resident returning to his home in the Sallynoggin area of Dun Laoghaire.

Gardaí are still trying to piece together the circumstances of Mr Sutherland’s death but yesterday arrested five people for questioning in connection with the fatal beating of the 54-year-old.

Late on Sunday night, in a dramatic swoop on a house in Loughlinstown, also in south Dublin, an 18-year-old was arrested and taken to Dun Laoghaire garda station for questioning. A garda helicopter was used during the arrest operation.

Three more people, all young men, were picked up yesterday morning following searches at a number of addresses in south Dublin and, in the afternoon, detectives arrested a fifth suspect.

At least one of those arrested is related to the murdered man. The five were questioned in Dun Laoghaire and Blackrock.

Mr Sutherland was well known around south County Dublin and particularly in the port town of Dun Laoghaire.

Locals described how he once lived at O’Rourke Park in Sallynoggin, close to where his body was found, but that after his wife died some years ago, he took to the drink and eventually lost his home.

It was originally thought Mr Sutherland had died from head injuries suffered after falling from a wall. But following an examination by Deputy State Pathologist Marie Cassidy it was revealed he was beaten and kicked to death.

Gardaí believe there was a personal motive behind the attack.

A spokesman said detectives are following a definite line of inquiry but are still trying to establish his movements after he was last seen in Ballybrack at 6pm on Saturday and when the body was found at 1.40am in the Pearse Gardens area of Sallynoggin.

Detectives want to speak to anyone who saw unusual or suspicious activity in the Pearse Gardens area late on Saturday night or early on Sunday. An incident room has been opened at Dun Laoghaire garda station.