Man held in killing of drug addict is released

THE funeral takes place in Dublin this morning of Mr Joseph, Dwyer, the AIDS victim and drug addict who was beaten to death by…

THE funeral takes place in Dublin this morning of Mr Joseph, Dwyer, the AIDS victim and drug addict who was beaten to death by a vigilante gang on Tuesday night.

A file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions after a man was questioned by gardai at Kilmainham Garda station yesterday in connection with the murder. The man was later released.

Mr Dwyer and a friend were attacked by a gang of 15 or 20 men at Basin Lane in Dolphin's Barn.

While a number of witnesses to the incident have named members of the gang, Garda sources said yesterday there was no question of making a large number of arrests before evidence had been properly gathered.

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The removal of Mr Dwyer (41) was attended in Dolphin's Barn yesterday by about 300 people. Many more stood outside the church and around the Dolphin's Barn junction while the ceremony was taking place, among theme drug users and friends of the dead man, who had witnessed him being killed on Tuesday night.

Among the mourners were Mr Dwyer's brother, James, and his three daughters. Outside the church of Our Lady of Dolours there was a brief incident when one of the daughters ran at a group of press photographers, shouting at them to "leave us alone".

At the removal, the parish priest, Father Bert Moore, prayed for Mr Dwyer to be "forgiven any sins he ever committed". The funeral takes place at 1O a.m. today.

Mr Dwyer and his friend, Mr Alan Byrne (23), had arrived at Dolphin's Barn at 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday, at the same time as a vigilante gang which had been operating in the area in recent weeks.

The gang attacked Mr Byrne and the two men headed for Fatima Mansions before returning to their shared flat in Basin Street. However, the gang caught them there and Mr Dwyer was beaten with sticks and iron bars. He died in hospital shortly afterwards.

A murder investigation is under way, based at Kilmainham Garda station.