Gardai have launched a probe after this chef died in his bed from injuries he received in an altercation on a city centre street.
James Kailedzi, 31, was found dead by his friends the morning after the incident in the centre of Dublin early last Friday. Mr Kailedzi, who was a chef in a well-known Dublin hotel and originally from Malawi, suffered a head wound after he fell to the ground in the incident, and gardai last night said he died from those injuries.
“I knew him very well, we shared a room together,’ Henry Mkumbira Phiri, president of the Association of Malawians in Ireland told us last night. “He was a very good man loved by the community. He was a man for everyone,” he added.
Read more: Man dies from injuries after city centre attack involving a number of men
Sources say Mr Kailedzi had been socialising with other Malawi friends when he became involved in an altercation with a group of men in the South William Street area of the city in the early hours of last Friday morning. He suffered a head injury when he fell but managed to get up and walked home.
However, he died from his injuries overnight and was found face down in his bed by his friends the following morning. Gardai began an investigation and later arrested two men as part of that probe.
Both men were later released without charge, but gardai are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai appealed for witnesses to come forward last night to what they are describing at this stage as a public order incident.
A spokesman said: “Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to a public order incident that occurred in the early hours of Friday 24th March 2023 in the Dublin 2 area.
“Any persons who may have been in the Coppinger Row/South William Street areas between 1:15am and 2:30am and witnessed an altercation between a number of males are asked to contact investigating Gardaí.
“One of these males, aged in his early 30s, later passed away, at his residence, as a result of injuries sustained. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.
“An incident room has been established at Pearse Street Garda Station and an investigation is continuing under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO).
“Two men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested as part of this investigation and detained at Garda Stations in Dublin. They have since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“Any persons travelling in the Coppinger Row/William Street areas between 1:15am and 2:30am who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.
“Anyone with any information that can assist Gardaí with this investigation are asked to contact Pearse Street Garda Station on 01 6669000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
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