A 41 year old Dublin drug dealer was last night beaten to death by a gang of up to 15 men as he walked with a friend near Basin Street Flats off James's Street. The second man is recovering in hospital following the attack.
Gardai believe the dead man, named locally as Joseph Dwyer, was beaten with sticks and other weapons. Gardai believe the attack was a vigilante beating that went too far. Dwyer had previous convictions for drug dealing, including a four year prison sentence in 1987, and for larceny.
Dwyer was taken by ambulance from a flat in Basin Street to St James Hospital shortly before 10 p.m., believed to be suffering from internal injuries. He died in hospital an hour later.
Dwyer was attacked in Basin Lane shortly after 9.30 p.m. as he walked along by the local school with a friend. The second man, who is in his mid twenties, later told gardai that they were approached by a gang of at least 15 people and both men were severely beaten.
Gardai were able to interview the second man about the murder from his hospital bed.
"We believe the two men were walking along Basin Lane when they were confronted by a number of people. They were both beaten with sticks and were later brought to St James's Hospital. Doctors fought to save the life of one man but he died an hour later," a Garda spokesman said early this morning.
The scene was sealed off by detectives and Garda forensic experts are expected there this morning.
