Tom O'Gorman
Officers found the mutilated body of Tom O'Gorman at his home in Castleknock Facebook

A man accused of killing his landlord following an argument over a game of chess, seems to have removed one of his victim's lungs and may have eaten it.

Savario Bellante, 34, is accused of severally beating and stabbing 39-year-old Thomas O'Gorman at his home in Castleknock, Dublin.

Bellante, originally from Palermo in Italy but who now works in Dublin, has appeared at Blanchardstown District Court charged with his murder. An officer told the court that Bellante replied "I am guilty" when he was charged with O'Gorman's murder.

According to detectives, the attack took place after the pair had a violent argument over a game of chess.

A post-mortem of the body of O'Gorman, a journalist who worked for The Voice Today newspaper in Dublin and the Irish Catholic newspaper, revealed that one of his lungs was removed during the frenzied attack and has yet to be discovered.

It was first thought that Bellante may have eaten the heart of his victim. However, the post-mortem revealed that organ was still intact. The Garda Siochana are now investigating whether he may have eaten O'Gorman's lung.

A source close to the investigation told the Irish Independent: "The victim's heart was intact but the PM confirms that the lung was removed from the body and has not been located.

"This is a horrific incident and one of the most grotesque murders experienced by gardai for quite some time. The investigation is following a definite line of inquiry."

After discovering the mutilated body of O'Gorman, police said there were parts of the investigation which were "too gruesome to reveal".

Tributes have been paid to O'Gorman following his death. Michael Kelly, editor of Irish Catholic newspaper, said: "Tom was an absolute gentleman. He was one of those guys who was absolutely inoffensive. The idea that anybody could have a bad word to say about him is incredible.

"He was a man of deep faith. He was very involved in all kinds of faith causes. He was also passionate about Leinster and Irish rugby."

O'Gorman also worked as a researcher for the Iona institute a Dublin-based traditional Catholic campaign group that aims to promotes marriage and religion.

David Quinn, director of The Iona Institute, said: "On behalf of everyone at The Iona Institute, I would like to express our total shock and deep sorrow at the terrible and untimely death of Tom O'Gorman. He was a friend as well as a work colleague to us all. He was a fond and dear friend and we will all miss him."