THE human remains, including a" severed head, severed limbs and a torso, found in a wooded area on the eastern suburbs of Cork three weeks ago, have been identified as Denis Patrick O'Driscoll (32), one of three men who vanished" from the city in 1994.
Yesterday evening, senior gardai in Cork told the O'Driscoll' family that, forensic and other technical examinations proved that the body parts found were those of Mr O'Driscoll.
Mr Driscoll's sister, Ms Jean Bailey, claimed since his disappearance that he had died violently and that his death was because of the fact that he was in possession of a "terrible secret".
Mr O'Driscoll and two other acquaintances, Mr Kevin Ball (42), a Welshman who had been living in Cork, and Mr Cathal Brien (in his 205), of Wexford had shared an apartment at Wellington Terrace in the eastern, suburbs of the city.
Three weeks ago, a man walking his dog was alerted to something unusual in a shallow mound when the dog unearthed what appeared to be human remains. The discovery was made at Lotabeg a heavily wooded area used by walkers on the eastern approaches to Cork.
Gardai were immediately called and found various body parts. Forensic experts, dental experts as well as fingerprint and other specialists were called in from Dublin, and it has now been established beyond doubt that the remains are those of Mr O'Driscoll.
A Corkman, Mr Frederick' Flannery, was charged in June with the murder of Mr O'Driscoll, but the trial collapsed when Judge' Barr ruled that crucial Garda evidence was withheld from the defence. He further ruled that Mr Flannery (37), of no fixed abode could not be retried.
Last night, a Garda spokesman said the authorities had explained to the O'Driscoll family why it had not been possible before now to conclusively identify the body of Patrick O'Driscoll. The family had been told, the spokesman added, that every avenue had to be conclusively followed before a positive identification could be made.