Foul play not suspected over Dublin canal deaths

Foul play is not currently suspected over the deaths of two men whose bodies were found in the Grand Canal in Dublin on Saturday.

The two men have been named as 49-year-old Donal Scanlon and 42-year-old Alex Warnick.

Mr Scanlon was originally from Ballybunion, Co Kerry and Mr Warnick was from the United States.

Their bodies were found close to Ranelagh Road bridge on Saturday morning.

Gardaí do not suspect foul play at this time but they are still awaiting the results of post-mortem examinations including toxicology reports.

Floral tributes were left at the scene where the two men died.

They were both known to homeless services and those who knew them today paid tribute.

“It’s a sunny day in Dublin today, but it’s a very sad day for all of us here,” said Aubrey McCarthy from Tiglin and the Lighthouse Homeless Service on Dublin’s Pearse Street.

“The important thing is that often the homeless you see on the streets are invisible and you walk by them.

“So, it’s highly important that the two deaths we are dealing with are not invisible. They are two gentlemen who have lost their lives,” he said.

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The Dublin Homeless Regional Executive offered its sympathies to the families of the two men and said there is sufficient emergency accommodation on offer to anyone seeking it.

Waterways Ireland has said it strongly advises people not to sleep on the canal banks for health and safety reasons.

Additional reporting Conor Hunt