Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the murder of a homeless man in Cork city.

At around 12.45am on Sunday, officers and emergency services were alerted following reports of an injured man and a tent on fire at Mardyke Walk.

They found an unconscious man with serious injuries.

He was removed to Cork University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The man, aged in his 50s, has been named locally as Timmy Hourihane.

A post mortem has been carried out by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster.

However Gardaí say the results are not being released for operational reasons.

The scene was preserved for technical examination by the Cork City Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit.

An incident room has been established and a senior investigating officer has been appointed to the case.

A number of statements have also been taken and CCTV in the area is being downloaded.

Speaking on Sunday, Superintendent Michael Comyns said: "We are appealing to those who were in Mardyke Walk area between 11.00pm last night and 1.00am this morning who may have witnessed any activity in the area to come forward.

"We are also appealing to motorists who may have passed through Mardyke Walk around these times to make dash-cam footage available to us.

"There are a number of guest houses in the area with visitors to the city staying last night and we would ask that if anybody seen or heard anything, no matter how insignificant they think it is, to contact us.

"We are currently treating this as a homicide investigation."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda station on 021-4522-000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666-111 or any Garda station.