Body of homeless LGBTQ+ man found in waste plant two years after partner drowned
Andrew Haire (Image: Facebook/angardasiochana)
Gardaí in Dublin are investigating the death of 35-year-old Andrew Haire after his body was found at a recycling plant in Clondalkin, Dublin, with detectives examining whether it was an accident, from natural causes, or due to foul play.
Workers at the facility discovered Haire shortly after 9pm on Friday, 24 July, as reported by the Irish Mirror. Gardaí launched an investigation and are examining how he ended up inside the collection bin.
A post-mortem examination was inconclusive in determining the cause of death, and further forensic examinations are expected.
Detectives are also working to establish Haire’s final movements. One line of inquiry is that he may have been inside a bin that was later emptied into a bin lorry and transported to the recycling plant. Gardaí are looking into reports that he had not collected his social welfare payment recently.
As An Garda Síochána said on Facebook, anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Ronanstown Garda Station on 01 666 7700 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Haire’s recent circumstances
Haire was originally from County Meath and is believed to have been in Cork more recently, where he had been sleeping rough and receiving help from a local homeless charity. It’s reported he then travelled back to Dublin on Thursday, 23 July.
Investigators reportedly believe he arrived safely in the capital before his body was discovered less than 24 hours later.
Friends believed he had been living on the streets since around 2017.
Tributes from the community
People who knew him remembered him as gentle and softly spoken. A friend who asked not to be identified described him as “bubbly” and “a really nice person”.
A volunteer with the Friends Helping Friends soup run described him as “a quiet, nice young fella”.
Haire was the former partner of Donal Scanlon, according to a separate report from the Irish Mirror, who died in a drowning in Dublin in July 2024.
In a video taken at a charitable event a few years previously, Scanlon spoke about their relationship and reportedly said: “We’re actually getting married in September.”
The friend said that after Scanlon’s death, Haire was “heartbroken”. They said: “He was like a shell of a man he was before.”
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