[Image: Photocall Ireland]

FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES of murder victim Tom O’Gorman packed into St Teresa’s Church in Dublin city centre yesterday evening to remember his life and share their grief.

The 39-year-old was killed at his house in Castleknock at the weekend. His lodger, 34-year-old Saverio Bellante, has been charged with the murder. It’s understood the two men had been playing a game of chess before the killing.

Last evening’s service was organised by Catholic lobby group The Iona Institute, where Tom worked as a researcher.

The organisation’s director David Quinn wrote in the wake of the killing that he was “still trying to process what really happened” and paid tribute to his colleague, describing him as having an “off-beat sense of humour” and being a “wonderful mimic”.

A UCD history graduate, Tom also worked as a journalist before taking up his role with the Iona Insititute, mostly for the now-defunct Catholic newspaper ‘The Voice’. He was also a contributor to ‘The Irish Catholic’.

Funeral details are yet to be confirmed. The notice announcing yesterday’s service described it as an “opportunity for those who knew Tom to share our grief and join in prayer for the repose of his soul”.