THE body discovered near Bush Island in the Shannon estuary last week has been identified as male. Garda sources said early this morning that further investigation into the death would begin today.
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, began a post mortem on the body at Il p.m. at Limerick Regional Hospital. He confirmed to the Garda that it was male around midnight. An initial Garda report on the badly decomposed body stated it was female.
Gardai involved in an investigation into the disappearance of the Kilkenny woman, Ms JoJo Dullard, who went missing in 1995, travelled to Limerick to attend the post mortem. They brought Ms Dullard's dental records with them in case they were needed for identification.
Ms Dullard's relatives were informed of the find, about two miles from Btinratty. However, gardai have stressed it could be the body of someone who had not been reported missing.
Initial Garda estimates were that the body could have been in the water for up to 18 months.
A pair of blue Wrangler jeans, a black belt with a "made in Ireland" logo, and a black training shoe were found on it.