Man who fell into the Grand Canal was new ‘Iveagh’ tenant
By Maurice Garvey
A MAN who tragically passed away after falling into the Grand Canal earlier this month, had just recently moved into a brand new Iveagh Trust apartment.
The Echo understands the man, Nicholas Murphy, from the Kylemore area, was one of the new residents at the €10 million senior citizens Annamore Court development in Ballyfermot – which was officially opened in June.
Emergency services were called at around 3am on September 3, after reports that a man in his 50s was in difficulty in water at the Ninth Lock in Clondalkin.
He was taken by NAS ambulance to Tallaght Hospital where he was later pronounced dead at approximately 4am.
Gardai are not treating the death as suspicious.
It is understood that Mr Murphy, had been socialising beside the canal shortly before the incident.
A homeless person attempted to save Mr Murphy after his fall into the canal.
The homeless man Ninel, orginally from Russia, has lived in a tent at Cloverhill for the last two months, and is known locally as ‘Neil.’
Neil was labelled a hero by Waterside Apartments resident Jay McEnroe, who awoke from his bed after hearing a commotion on Saturday night.
“Me and my brother (Dean) ran over straight away after hearing the ambulance noises,” said Jay.
“The man tried to save the person, he jumped in and pulled him out of the water. The ambulance never even gave him a blanket. This guy is a hero, he lives in a tent beside the canal, I see him there all the time.”
Jay and his brother provided Neil with fresh clothes and shoes.
The Echo spoke to a couple of Neil’s friends, as the former’s English isn’t too good.
Daniel Doyle, a friend of Mr Murphy, said that Neil had not been given any recognition for his bravery in attempting to save a person’s life.
“There were two other people there at the time he fell in, but neither of them could swim,” he said.
“Neil ran straight in, and got a shock with the cold water. The ambulance didn’t give him anything, but two lads came over and gave him clothes and shoes to wear. Nicky was great mates with a lot of people in the area, and would be well known in Ballyfermot.”
Friends of Neil are currently trying to get him a place to stay before winter.
Independent Councillor Francis Timmons said: “It was a very unfortunate, tragic accident. My thoughts go out to the family.
“It was very heroic what the homeless man tried to do, and from what I hear, he did his best.”
A funeral service was held for Mr Murphy last on Wednesday morning at the Assumption Church.
A message on RIP.ie reads Nicholas (Nicko) Murphy, late of Kylemore Drive, Ballyfermot and Leaf International Candy Company, beloved son of Mary and the late Nicholas, loving brother of Tina, Mary, Elizabeth, James, Bernie, Ritchie, and Christy, sadly, missed by his heartbroken mother, brothers, sisters, extended family and friends.
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