Gardai try to identify body of man found in mountains

Gardai were last night attempting to identify the body found in the Comeragh Mountains on Wednesday night.

It is now established that the badly decomposed body, discovered in a woodland near the Waterford-Tipperary border, was that of a man aged between 25 and 35.

A murder investigation was instigated following the completion of a post-mortem examination by the deputy State pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, at midnight on Thursday.

However, Supt John Howard of Tramore Garda station, who is leading the investigation, said the cause of death had still not been established. "We know it was not from natural causes but tests are ongoing to establish the exact cause of death."

The body was found in a disused quarry by a man out walking at Clondonnell, about five miles from Rathgormack, Co Waterford, at about 10 p.m. The woodland is a popular amenity area for walkers from surrounding towns, including Clonmel.

Members of the Garda Technical Bureau continued to comb the area for clues yesterday, while questionnaires were distributed in the area. "We would again appeal for anyone who was in the Clondonnell area in the past couple of weeks and who might have noticed anything suspicious to contact us," said Supt Howard.

A report that the body had been set alight was incorrect, he said. An incident room has been set up at Rathgormack Garda station. Tests were continuing yesterday to see if the person's description matched that of any person missing from the area, but Supt Howard stressed that no link had been established to date with any specific case.

Those reported missing in the past year included Mr Martin Nolan (34), from Tramore, Co Waterford, who disappeared last November and whose blood was found at the time in woodland near Waterford regional airport, about 30 miles from where the body was discovered this week.

"We are of course keeping the Nolan family informed of developments, but there are other people we are in touch with as well," said Supt Howard. The identification process was likely to be slow and "could take longer than anticipated".

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room at 051-646978, or 051646979, or Tramore Garda station at 051-381333.