TWO SUSPECTS HAVE been arrested following the death of a journalist in Dublin city centre in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Eugene Moloney, a former Irish Independent journalist was pronounced dead at St. James’ Hospital after he was found lying on Camden Street at around 4.30am.

Two men in their twenties were arrested in south Dublin and have been detained at Kevin Street and Pearse Street Garda stations. It’s understood that Mr Moloney had been struck and then hit his head when he fell.

The fifty-five-year-old was working as a freelance journalist in Dublin, but had previously worked at the Irish Independent, Irish News and the Evening Herald.

The group managing editor of Independent Papers Michael Denieffe is paying tribute to him today in the Irish Independent, calling him a “resourceful and fearless journalist”.

Tom Brady, security editor at the Irish Independent told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland that the post mortem on Mr Moloney’s body confirmed that he had died as a result of a fatal assault and that the inquiry had been upgraded to a murder investigation.

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for witnesses who may have been in the Camdem Street area between 3.45am and 4.30am on Sunday morning, particularly around the pedestrian lights to contact them at Kevin Street on 01 6669400 or on the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Read: Investigation launched into suspicious death in Dublin city