Man (30s) arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with discovery of body in flat in south Dublin

Early indications are that Mick Whelan was stabbed, but results of postmortem will determine course of investigation

Garda
A man has been arrested in connection with the discovery of a body in Rialto, Dublin. Illustration: Paul Scott

A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found at a residence in Dublin on Tuesday.

Gardaí investigating the discovery in a flat in a house at Herberton Park, Rialto believe the deceased, named locally as Mick Whelan, may have been violently attacked. He was found with several wounds at around 3pm on Tuesday.

Early indications are the man’s injuries may have been sustained in a stabbing, though sources stressed that the nature of his wounds, and precisely how they were sustained, would only become clear after a postmortem was completed. All of the resources a homicide inquiry have been committed to the case.

The man arrested on Wednesday morning was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a garda station in Dublin.

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A number of other residents live in three other flats in the house where the man’s remains were discovered. Gardaí were speaking to them on Wednesday in an attempt to determine if they witnessed or heard anything suspicious.

“Gardaí are investigating all of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a man’s body in Dublin 8 on

“The results of a postmortem examination will guide the direction of the Garda investigation. No further information is available at this time.”

The scene of the incident remained sealed off on Wednesday while a forensic examination was carried out by members of the Garda Technical Bureau. A postmortem was due to be conducted by a pathologist on Wednesday.

An incident room has been established at Kilmainham Garda station and the investigation is being overseen by a senior investigating officer. A family liaison officer has been appointed.

It is understood that Mr Whelan had been living in the house with his two sons for two to three years, but had previously spent a long period living in the US.

Residents from the Herberton Road area expressed shock and fear following the news of the man’s death.

Two local women living in a housing complex off Herberton Road said they were shocked by the news.

“We’ve lived all our lives here and you’d never expect this in the area, it’s really frightening that it’s on your own doorstep,” said one woman, who asked not to be named. “God help whoever he his. No matter who he is, no one deserves to be murdered.”

“News like this does affect you because you’re living so close to it, I never thought I’d see anything like this on this street,” said the second woman, who also asked not to be identified.

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Conor Lally

Conor Lally

Conor Lally is Security and Crime Editor of The Irish Times

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter specialising in immigration issues and cohost of the In the News podcast