Irishman in his 20s dies in Mumbai, India

An Irishman in his 20s from Co Westmeath has died in India. Brendan Devanney passed away in Mumbai in recent days.

According to local media reports he was found unconscious in a hotel in Sahar near Mumbai airport a day after landing en route to Goa.

His brother Enda Devanney, based in Sydney, has raised concerns of foul play in his brother’s death, writing a post on his Facebook page. He called for his brother’s death to be investigated and said Brendan was “drugged up to be robbed of all his hard working money”.

It comes amid a report in The Times of India that locals suspect his drink may have been spiked. “It is too early to conclude whether there was any foul play. A probe will be initiated after the postmortem,” Sahar senior police inspector Prashant Mard told The Times of India.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was providing consular assistance to the man’s family. A spokeswoman was unable to comment on the circumstances of his death.

Family and friends have paid tribute to him on social media. His brother Enda said Brendan had a “heart of gold”. Some friends described him as a “true gent of a man” “an absolute legend” and someone who always had “ a smile for everyone”.