Dead man found near Rathcoole had ‘stab wounds’

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses following the discovery of a man’s body in Rathcoole, Co Dublin at the same location where an abandoned new born baby was found earlier this month.

The man, in his 30s, had multiple stab wounds, and it is understood he is from the Crumlin area of Dublin.

Gardaí have not released his name and declined to say if he had criminal convictions.

The emergency services were alerted to the death of the man after receiving a 999 call from a member of the public just before 3am on Saturday.

Gardaí said he was pronounced dead when the emergency services arrived at the scene. Supt Brendan Connolly of Clondalkin Garda station said the man’s identity had been established and gardaí were liaising with his family but his name would not be released at that time.

He was speaking at a press briefing with senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Colm O’Malley at the Garda station on Saturday.

Gardaí said the man had suffered from “visible injuries” but the cause of death has not been determined.

“We await the outcome of the postmortem examination to establish the cause of death,” Supt Connolly said.

The postmortem was being conducted by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster at James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown.

“There is no indication at this time that there are any links to any gangland or organised crime,” he said.

“It is an isolated incident and we are in the early stages of the investigation but at the moment we have no indications in that regard.”

When asked if the victim was known to gardaí, he said: “We’re looking at all the circumstances.... He’s only been recently identified so as I say it’s too early to speculate on any aspect of that.”

He said the scene had been preserved for a technical examination area and a divisional search team was searching the area.

CCTV footage in the area was being examined and house to house enquiries were conducted.

A helicopter flew over the area earlier and Supt Connolly said it was helping with the search as well as being used to take aerial photographs to map the area.

Supt Connolly said gardaí wished to appeal for witnesses who may have been in the area of Steelstown Lane between midnight on Friday night and 3am on Saturday.

He said members of the public could contact Clondalkin Garda station on 01 6667600 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666111, or any Garda station.

Asked if the death of the man was linked to the discovery of the baby, Supt Connolly said: “We are not saying anything one way or the other. It’s very early [in the investigation]. It’s something that we are looking at, consciously looking at.”

The abandoned baby, named Maria by hospital staff was found on May 8th at a gateway on the roadside. She had been wrapped up in a fleece blanket and placed in a shopping bag. Despite several appeals, her parents have not made contact with Túsla, the child and family agency and she is now in care.