A traveller mauled to death by dogs in Malaysia ran a furniture restoration business before leaving for the Asian country three months ago.

Maurice Sullivan died when he was attacked by the animals at an organic farm on the northern island of Penang on Sunday.

It is understood the 50-year-old, who had a teenage son, died from excessive bleeding after receiving more than 50 bites.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is giving consular assistance to the family of Mr Sullivan, who is originally from the South East.

Mr Sullivan had a small furniture conservation firm in Loughrea, Co Galway, before he shut up shop for his trip.

Tributes have been paid to the dead man, who returned to college in recent years. He graduated from Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) in 2004 with a BSc in furniture conservation and restoration.

Dermot O'Donovan, department head at the Letterfrack campus, described the past pupil as a grounded mature student.

Mr O'Donovan said: "He was very grounded, very sociable and very interested in his studies.

"He was a very dedicated student.

"He came through as quite a mature student so generally they are more interested and dedicated."