THE funeral of Patrick O'Driscoll, whose dismembered body was discovered in a shallow grave three weeks ago, is expected to take place early next week.
This follows tests which have established that body parts found in an overgrown garden by gardai were those of the 32 year old Cork man who disappeared in December 1994.
Gardai in Mayfield said fragments of metal that had been placed in the late Mr O'Driscoll's skull following an accident, and dental records had led to his identification.
The dismembered body was buried in three bags in the grounds of Lotabeg House on the main Cork to Dublin road.
Ms Jean Bailey, a sister of the dead man, said the family was relieved. "We believed all along that the remains were those of Patrick, but now that we have been told for definite we are very saddened. We just hope now that whoever was responsible for his death will be brought to justice."
The family, which lives in the Mayfield area of the city, was told of the identification on Thursday. Ms Bailey said the burial will take place as soon as possible.
A murder charge against Mr Fred Flannery, of no fixed abode, was dismissed in the Central Criminal Court in June after Mr Justice Barr accused gardai of failing to disclose all statements taken by them.
The investigation continues into the murder of Mr O'Driscoll and the whereabouts of two other men, Mr Cathal O'Brien and Mr Kevin Ball, who have been missing since April, 1994. Mr O'Driscoll moved into a flat at Wellington Terrace in Cork city some weeks before he was reported missing. The flat had been occupied by the other two missing men up to the time of their disappearance.
Mr O Brien (23), from Kilkeel, Co Wexford, had completed a computer course in Waterford RTC before working in the Simon Community hostel in Cork where he met Mr Ball (42), an Englishman.