Questions remain as to how 'warnings' were not acted on before Tony Dempsey was killed in a 'drugs den', a Dublin councillor has claimed.
The 28-year-old's body is suspected to be have been in the flat - which he was not living in - at Kevin Barry House in the city centre for a week before it was found. People are understood to have come and gone from the apartment in the days between his death and the discovery of his body.
Neighbours reportedly complained of a stench coming from the property in the days leading up to the grim find. The garda investigation into the young man's death was upgraded to a murder probe last night following a post-mortem investigation.
Read more: Young man murdered and left dead for a week in Dublin flat named
Issues around the property were raised with the manager of the Dublin City Council complex in recent weeks, Councillor Ray McAdam told Dublin Live. He said: "I am aware that there were a number of complaints raised with Dublin City Council through the estate manager in recent weeks.
"I am aware that an outreach worker, from the Peter McVerry Trust, was called to the property. I am aware that a number of red flags and warnings went off but nothing was done."
Cllr McAdam said he will be requesting DCC's Housing Department and the Peter McVerry Trust - who manage the apartment - to come before the Central Area Committee which the he chairs. He said: "I will be...requesting the Housing Department and the likes of the Peter McVerry Trust and those involved in the Housing First initiative to come before the area committee to explain how these warning signals were not recognised, weren't picked up and more importantly weren't acted upon."
He added: "Were they acted upon, one has to ask, would a 28-year-old man still be alive today?"
The Peter McVerry Trust released a statement on the tragic death confirming they managed the property under the Housing First programme for Dublin City Council. The tenant was assigned to the flat 18 months ago but was "struggling" with others coming into the property.
A spokeswoman for the homelessness charity said: "Unfortunately, the tenancy began to break down over recent months as the tenant was struggling to manage the front door and individuals, who had no interest in the property or the tenant’s recovery, were gaining entry to and using the property.
"Steps were actively taken to support the client to surrender the tenancy with a view to being supported in another tenancy elsewhere. This process was being carried out in line with the rights of the tenant. PMVT also increased staff visits to the property."
CEO of the homeless charity Pat Doyle said: "We’re saddened at the loss of a young life and wish to express our sympathies to the family of the deceased. The man was known to our organisation but was not a current service user.
“Staff visited the property daily, including over the weekend, and they had no indication or evidence that someone was deceased at the property or in the vicinity. Housing First helps some of the most vulnerable in our society. 86% of the tenancies under Housing First are successful, but unfortunately this was one of the 14% which was clearly failing over recent months.
“Peter McVerry Trust is fully cooperating with the Garda and is mindful of the impact on our own staff who deal with very complex situations on a daily basis, on the tenant whose tenancy has been ruptured, and on the broader community."
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