A MAN who was killed while living rough in the Phoenix Park had around €130,000 in a bank account after selling his home eight years ago.

The victim is understood to be a Gerry Donnelly, who formerly lived in Tallaght in south Co Dublin.

Gardai said the victim, who was in his late 30s, had opted to live outdoors in the Phoenix Park on occasions as a "lifestyle" choice and was not a typical homeless person.

Officers last night confirmed a report in the Irish Independent yesterday that he had owned a house and had access to money.

They believe Mr Donnelly sometimes carried relatively large sums of money on him and had a considerable amount of cash with him in his sleeping bag.

Officers said he kept around €130,000 in a bank account, following the sale of his house in 2005.

Gardai learned the probable identity of the dead man at the weekend but were awaiting the outcome of DNA tests and an examination of dental records to confirm it.

Mr Donnelly has no immediate family, apart from his mother, who is currently ill in hospital and cannot be interviewed by gardai.

Gardai said he had a number of addresses in Dublin in the past and had also been employed. He had not come to the attention of the gardai previously.

A post-mortem examination on the body of Mr Donnelly had indicated that he had not been sleeping rough for long.

HORRIFIC

Gardai believe that Mr Donnelly may have spoken in the past about his access to money and this led to him being targeted.

A small heater was found beside the body by gardai, who spotted the fire near the Wellington monument in the Phoenix Park around 1am on Friday while on a routine patrol.

Tom Brady Security Editor

Irish Independent