Gardaí have started a murder inquiry after a postmortem confirmed that a body found in Co Meath yesterday was that of Ciaran Noonan, who was abducted from a Dublin street.
A man in his twenties was arrested in north Dublin this morning in connection with the inquiry. He is being questioned at Store Street Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Noonan (29), who was living in Ashbourne, Co Meath, was last seen on Russell Avenue, East Wall, on October 20th.
Gardaí found the body after a search of farmland near Trim. The postmortem was carried out a Tallaght hospital yesterday by deputy state pathologist Dr Khalid Jaber.
Gardaí consider Noonan’s abduction and murder to be drug-related.
He was seen being beaten by a number of men, at least one of whom was armed with an iron bar, before being bundled into the back of the car and driven off.
Gardaí believe Mr Noonan was driven away in a distinctive black VW Golf with a spoiler on the rear, tinted windows, spoked wheels and bearing the licence plate 05-D-88805.
The car was later found at an underground car park at the Killegland apartment complex in Ashbourne at about 8pm on the day of the abduction.
Gardaí believe they have identified the man who was driving the car.
Detectives think Mr Noonan most likely died in the period shortly after he was last seen alive in East Wall.
Two other people, both women, have been arrested in connection with the case. Both have been released without charge.