A witness who phoned the confidential crime line, Crimestoppers, about the canal body killing is to receive the first reward ever given for information in a murder case and the highest sum awarded.
The information provided by the witness proved a key factor in solving the murder of Farah Swaleh Noor. The reward was said by Crimestoppers to be a "significant amount" and the largest it had ever given.
Mr Noor's decapitated body was found in the Royal Canal in Dublin in March 2005. A substantial cash reward was offered for specific information leading to the victim's identification and those responsible for his murder.
A friend of Mr Noor called Crimestoppers after reading an appeal for information in a newspaper for members of the African community.
Crimestoppers teamed up with the gardaí to appeal for information. Leaflets were produced in a number of African languages with a picture of the Irish soccer jersey the deceased was wearing and a physical description of him.
Det Insp Christopher Mangan said there was no doubt that Crimestoppers' assistance was hugely beneficial to gardaí.
Crimestoppers spokeswoman Paula Eager said: "This is the first time a reward has been given in a murder case. Rewards have been given before but they have been for such crimes as robberies. This reward is also the largest ever and is a significant amount."
Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on freephone 1800 25 00 25 and is manned by detectives in the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.