The sister of a man who was murdered in Dublin last year has said his killers are still roaming the streets.

Tony Dempsey was found beaten to death in a ground-floor flat at Kevin Barry House on Coleraine Street near Smithfield last September.

It is believed the 28-year-old’s body lay decomposing in the flat for almost two weeks before emergency services were contacted.

They were only contacted after neighbours in Kevin Barry House complained of a smell coming from the flat.

"Worse than an animal"

This afternoon, Catherine Dempsey told Newstalk her brother was treated “worse than an animal”.

“He was left buried under a pile of clothes after being beaten to death,” she said.

“They did that to make sure he wasn’t found. He was left to rot. The emergency services were only alerted when the smell got so bad.”

Gardaí at the scene of Kevin Barry House on Coleraine Street in Dublin. Picture by: Barry Whyte/Newstalk

Four months on, nobody has ever been charged with Tony Dempsey’s murder – but Catherine said she knows his killers are still roaming the streets of the capital.

“A lot of people out there know who killed Tony,” she said.

Catherine is pleading for anyone with any information to come forward.

“Please, please, if anyone out there knows anything about what happened to my brother, please go to the Gardaí,” she said.

“As a family, we want to see his killers behind bars.”

"Roaming the streets"

It is understood that Gardaí have interviewed up to 60 people who may have come and gone from the Kevin Barry House apartment since the murder; however, nobody has been arrested.

“My brother’s killers are still roaming the streets,” said Catherine.

“I’m terrified that they could target me or my family too. We are scared. My children are scared.

“My son read online about what happened to his uncle a few weeks after it happened. He is scared that those people who killed Uncle Tony will come and get him too.”

Gardaí at the scene at Kevin Barry House on Coleraine Street in Dublin. Picture by: Barry Whyte/Newstalk

Ms Dempsey said she now wants to leave the council accommodation she is currently living in with her four children.

“I’m living close to where my brother was living,” she said. “I’m terrified that my children or I may bump into Tony’s killers.

“I can’t live here anymore, but I’ve been told there’s no alternative accommodation, so it’s either stay here close to my brother’s killers or become homeless.

“I’m pleading with Dublin City Council to find me alternative accommodation.”

A Garda spokesperson said the investigation into the murder of Tony Dempsey remains open.

Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have information to come forward.

Main image shows flowers left near the scene where Tony Dempsey was found dead, 15-09-2022. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews