[attach id=295125 size="medium"]Martin – his identity is still unknown. Photo: Donal Moloney[/attach]

The Irish photographer who came across the homeless man with a “Sliema” accent on the streets of Dublin returned yesterday for another chat and took a close-up photo of him.

It is hoped that if Martin – as he calls himself – has any relatives in Malta, this picture will jog their memories. Otherwise it is considered very difficult to determine whether or not he is Maltese.

Photographer Donal Moloney is working hand-in-hand with the Maltese Embassy in Dublin on the matter. In an effort not to upset Martin and scare him away, Mr Moloney appealed for Maltese people in Dublin not to hassle him.

He went to speak to Martin again yesterday morning and took him some breakfast. They spoke at length about subjects ranging from politics to sport to photography.

“I did not discuss Malta as I now feel that my endless questions could irritate him. It’s best we keep it light and he will eventually open up to me. I feel he now trusts me a little more and he recognises me,” said Mr Moloney.

During their conversation, he said, Martin knew what year it was and also acknowledged that he “knew a little about computers”. He also reminded the photographer that he had told him that he had studied graphic design.

Martin became an unwitting internet sensation in Malta on Monday when a recording of an interview with him was uploaded on broadsheet.ie. It was then flagged by blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia who was convinced he sounded like a well-spoken Maltese man from the Sliema area.