THE former home of tragic suicide victim Jason Smurfit was sold for €1.41m at a crowded auction room yesterday.

The auction attracted plenty of interest, eventually selling for €310,000 more than the guide price. Five separate bidders got involved in the quickfire auction held in the plush surrounds of the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, in leafy south Dublin.

Eventually, a professional couple in their 30s won with a bid of €1.41m.

While the three-bedroom Castle View on Ardburgh Road has stunning views of Dublin Bay, it is understood that the interior needs plenty of work.

Describing the two-storey house in Dalkey as having an “exquisite location”, Niall Hassett of Hassett Estate Agents started the bidding at €1.5m, saying that many of the 14 parties present had had “plenty of time to look at it”.

However, at first time of asking there were no biters at €1.5m nor €1.1m nor indeed €900,000, prompting Mr Hassett to threaten to withdraw the house.

“It was still good money to pay for the site,” remarked one observer.

Jason Smurfit (35), a nephew of multi-millionaire packaging tycoon Michael Smurfit, died in a London churchyard in early May having poured petrol over himself before setting himself alight.

Posted: 06|30|06 at 7:59 am. Filed under: Property & Land.