Postmortem will determine if murder investigation to begin after body recovered from sea off Sliabh Liag, Donegal

Gardaí have said they are awaiting the results of a postmortem on a body found off cliffs at Sliabh Liag in Co Donegal before deciding whether to formally begin a murder inquiry.

Gardaí investigating an alleged assault in Co Donegal recovered human remains in the sea off Sliabh Liag on Monday morning, following a search operation lasting 10 days.

The body, believed to be that of a man who vanished in the area the weekend before last, was discovered with the assistance of the Coast Guard.

Gardaí were treating the missing person case in Co Donegal as a probable murder investigation following the discovery of a blood-spattered car in the Killybegs area.

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The remains were taken to Letterkenny University Hospital after 8am on Monday, and the State Pathologist’s office was informed of the discovery. “The body has since been removed from the scene and taken to Letterkenny University Hospital,” Garda headquarters said in a brief statement on Monday.

Local reports say the examination may not take place until Tuesday morning at the hospital.

The findings will be passed on to gardaí who have set up an incident room at Ballyshannon Garda station under the direction of a senior investigating officer.

Although the identity of the body has not yet been confirmed, it is understood to be that of a man in his mid- to late-60s from Northern Ireland.

The man is understood to have been socialising in the Kilcar, Glenties or Sliabh Liag area in the days leading up to the weekend of June 25th-26th, when he disappeared. He was understood to have been seen in the company of a man and a woman.

Two people, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, were arrested on Monday, June 26th. The woman was questioned at Ballyshannon Garda station and the man was detained at Letterkenny Garda station before both were released without charge the following evening.

Garda also searched a house in the Killybegs area linked to the man who was arrested. A SUV belonging to the man is still being held and examined by gardaí.

Detectives believe the missing man was beaten to death and his remains dumped in the sea some time during the weekend before last.

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone who was travelling in the vicinity of Killybegs-Sliabh Liag between the afternoon of Saturday, June 24th, and the evening of Sunday, June 25th and who observed anything which drew their attention to contact them.

“Any road users travelling in these areas at these times who may have camera footage (including dashcam) are asked to make this footage available to gardaí,” a Garda statement said. “Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballyshannon Garda station on 071 985 8530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”

Gardaí had in recent days lifted a roadblock to the Sliabh Liag cliffs and viewing platform after they were shut as search teams including gardaí, the Irish Coast Guard and the Donegal Mountain Rescue searched the area.

Local county councillor Niamh Kennedy said at least now there is some form of closure following a week of searching.

“It’s really sad and upsetting news for the entire area. People are relieved that a body has been found and there can be some sort of closure for the family,” she said. “It has been a traumatic time for everyone so my condolences go to everyone involved.”