The decomposed body of a man believed to have been dead since before Christmas was found in a home located in an affluent south Dublin suburb.

The Irish Independent reports that an investigation has been launched after the remains of 59-year-old Peter Sheehan were discovered in his home at Birch Dale, Westminster Park, Foxrock in Dublin.

The police made the discovery at around 11:30 am on Thursday after they were notified by a local that Mr Sheehan had not been seen in the suburb for several weeks. Police discovered Mr Sheehan's badly decomposed remains at the bottom of the stairs.

Police believe that Mr Sheehan, who was unmarried and lived in the house alone, could have been there for almost three months. Locals described the man as friendly but shy and somewhat eccentric. Mr Sheehan had moved into the area around five years ago and kept mostly to himself.

Mr Sheehan's remains were removed to Loughlinstown Hospital and a post-mortem was due to be carried out on Friday.

A police spokesman said that the cause of death was not apparent due to the state of decomposition of the remains and that circumstances of the death wouldn't be clear until the results of the post-mortem were known. Foul play was not immediately suspected.

Mr Sheehan's family had no comment about his death when contacted by the Irish Independent.