This article is from page 3 of the 2013-12-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
A MAN, who was murdered while sleeping rough in the Phoenix Park in Dublin at the end of November, will be laid to rest in a family grave in Kildysart Cemetry today (Tuesday).
Gerard Donnelly will be buried along side his father after 11am Mass tomorrow.
The 36-year-old was found burned to death at Wellington Road, in the Phoenix Park, in the early hours of November 29 and it took Gardaí some time to identify the murder victim who grew up in Tallaght.
An only child, he has no remaining family in Dublin and so has been brought to West Clare to be laid to rest where his uncles and cousins still live.
His later father Flan was a native of Cranny and his mother is believed to be in hospital.
It is understood that the Gerard opted to live outdoors in the Phoenix Park on occasions as a “lifestyle” choice and was “not a typical homeless person”.
The father of one also had € 130,000 in a bank account following the sale of the family home five years ago.
Mr Donnelly’s remains reposed in Kildysart Church last night before his funeral Mass and burial today.
Ciaran Moran (27), who has an address at Camden Hall, Camden Street, Dublin, has been charged with his murder at Dublin District Court.
Two other people – a 20-year-old man and 17-year-old woman – were also arrested but both were later released without charge.