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Tributes were paid tonight to Eoin Carney who tragically died after his head became stuck in a patio door.

The body of 24-year-old Eoin Carney was discovered at the back of a house in the Rivervale estate in Dunleer, Co Louth, yesterday.

It appears he was trying to get into a friend's house when he became trapped in the patio door.

Pals last night paid tribute to Eoin who they described as a “lovely lad”.

Edel Sheils said: “I grew up with Eoin. When he was young he was into sports. He tried the gym and all that when he grew up but that wasn’t for him.

“He lived in Dunleer with his mam Bridie.”

Ms Sheils said she was devastated when she learned news of the death: “It was really, really bad. Eoin was a lovely fellow in his own way. He had a heart.

“He always went up to that house, it was his mate’s house. That wasn’t him breaking in there, Eoin was up there all the time.”

(Image: Picture: Ciara Wilkinson)

Another pal Mairead Higgins, who lives close to where Eoin was found, said: “He was a very very nice lad. He was in my house all the time.

“I watched that guy grow up from a baby.

“He had his difficulties, who doesn’t, but he had a heart of gold. He would give you the last bit out of his mouth.

“It’s just a shame because he was such a lovely lad. He looked after my daughter. She is very upset as well.

“This is a very sad shock. I just love the chap and I am going to miss him very much. He was a very good friend.

“It is my birthday today so I will never forget him.

“He was too young to die in a bad way.”

The Irish Mirror has learned the local man, who had more than 50 previous convictions, was trying to get into his friend’s home after he found himself locked out.

Gardai believe Carney was trying to lift the sliding door off in an attempt to get back inside.

But when he tried to slip in the door slid back at him and crushed his head against the frame.

Carney’s pal, who was asleep at the time, made the grim discovery when he walked downstairs early on Tuesday.

He moved the body and attempted to resuscitate the Dunleer man but to no avail.

Gardai were called to the scene and a technical examination was carried out.

His body was later moved to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy carried out a postmortem examination last.

It is understood he died from asphyxiation after getting his neck and head trapped in the patio door.