A ROUGH sleeper couldn’t be saved after he was found with serious head injuries in the city centre.

Andrew O’Connell was found unconscious in Royal Pavilion Gardens in Brighton on Wednesday, August 8

Security called the ambulance and police as had suffered obvious injuries to his head, and he was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

But despite neurosurgery, doctors were unable to save him, and he died on Friday, August 10.

The gardens and museum were closed off to the public while police and forensics investigators were called in on Wednesday, August 8.

Witnesses reported that there had been a disturbance in the park between rough sleepers and homeless the night before.

An inquest into Mr O’Connell’s death was opened and adjourned by assistant coroner Catherine Palmer and coroner’s officer Tony Beldam yesterday.

An inquest into Mr O’Connell’s death was opened and adjourned by assistant coroner Catherine Palmer and coroner’s officer Tony Beldam yesterday.

The unemployed 54-year-old was sleeping rough in Brighton, but was originally from Dublin.

He was the divorced father of Tara and Danny O’Connell.

In a statement after news of his death, his family said: “Andrew was a family man who was loved by many.

“He was a kind, intelligent man with a free spirit who loved to travel. As a family we are utterly devastated, hurt and angry that he has been taken so cruelly from us.”

Another homeless man, Sergio Lemori, appeared at Lewes Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to murder.

The unemployed 32-year-old will now face a trial on Monday, January 21 next year.