Death of elderly man in Dublin investigated

Gardai today sealed off a sheltered housing unit in Dublin after the discovery of a body of an elderly man.

Gardai today sealed off a sheltered housing unit in Dublin after the discovery of a body of an elderly man.

Technical experts have been called to examine the scene in Robinson Court, Cork Street, in the south inner city, where the pensioner was found by a home helper shortly before midday.

A preliminary examination of the body, still at the complex, is expected to take place before it is removed for a full post mortem examination by the state pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy.

A Garda spokeswoman said: "We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body."

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The ambulance service were initially called to the scene by the home helper and then alerted the Gardai. Deputy state pathologist Dr Michael Curtis arrived at the scene shortly before 5pm to carry out a preliminary examination at the ground floor apartment.

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 was reported 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." Mr Hernon said: "I've never seen anything like it in my life." 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.

"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)".

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.