Gardaí in Dublin have commenced a murder investigation following the discovery of a body in a flat in the north inner city yesterday evening.
The man was the victim of a violent assault and suffered severe head injuries.
The property is owned by Dublin City Council and managed by the Peter McVerry Trust, which confirmed today it had received complaints from neighbours but was not aware it had operated as "a drug den".
The trust's CEO, Pat Doyle, said the charity was saddened at the loss of a young life.
The body of the victim was removed this morning for a post-mortem examination, after the State Pathologist visited the scene and conducted a preliminary examination.
His body was discovered after gardaí received a report and called to the ground floor flat in Kevin Barry House at 6.30pm yesterday.
Gardaí said his body was found lying on the ground near a bed inside the flat for more than a week.
People were living and sleeping in the flat during that time.
Forensic specialists examined the flat and the area around it today which was sealed off as a crime scene.
A senior investigating officer has been appointed, an incident room set up and gardaí at the Bridewell have issued an appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.
They have interviewed a number of people and are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area.
This afternoon, the Peter McVerry Trust issued a statement confirming it managed the property for Dublin City Council as part of its Housing First programme, which seeks to accommodate the most vulnerable people with a significant history of rough sleeping.
The victim in this case is not the tenant, and while not a user of the trust's services, is known to them.
The trust said today the tenancy began to break down over recent months and the tenant no longer lives at the property. It said that others, who had no interest in the property or recovery, were gaining entry to and using the property.
The CEO of the trust said they were saddened at the loss of a young life and that they were not aware the property was being used as a "drug den" as neighbours have claimed.
Mr Doyle commiserated with the murder victim's family on their loss.
