Post-mortem results show Robert died of asphyxia

Post-mortem results on the body of Cork schoolboy Robert Holohan show he died of asphyxia but gardaí said there was "no evidence" of sexual assault.

A Garda statement issued this morning said: "Investigations are ongoing to establish the place and time of death. . . . Searches will continue throughout the day to search for anything of an evidential nature."

Flowers left near the spot where the body was found

Gardaí in Co Cork met this morning to review the results of the post-mortem carried out on Robert, who went missing from his Midleton home on January 4th.

His body was found 11 miles away on Wednesday wrapped in black plastic bags caught on vegetation 14 feet into a deep glen at Glanturkin near Inch Strand.

A Garda source said had it not caught on the vegetation they may never have found the body. The boy's body was returned to the Holohan family today and he will be buried tomorrow afternoon.

Gardaí investigating the murder are believed to be looking closely at mobile phone patterns of suspects to see if any of their movements matched those of the 11-year-old schoolboy. Yesterday, Gardaí confirmed Robert's mobile phone was found with his body.

Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey said that gardaí had over 30 people who "could loosely be termed suspects" based primarily on visual sightings though he conceded that many of these may turn out be simply witnesses in the case.

"There are people we require to trace, people we require to interview, people we require to eliminate and we have a located and eliminated quite a number of people," said Assistant Commissioner Hickey.

Chief Supt Kieran McGann of Cork North Division said some 100 gardaí have been involved in the inquiry to date with 50 detectives working on the criminal investigation following up to close to 1,000 lines of inquiry.

Gardaí, meanwhile, have spoken to two two golfers who were East Cork Golf Club and have ruled themselves out of the investigation. Officers are still looking for a man seen in Egan's Field near Water Rock and a man seen in a red van at Curragh Wood - both on January 4th.

The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said today that the confirmation that Robert Holohan has lost his young life will cause a deep sense of sadness and distress throughout the community.

Mr McDowell said it was only right as Justice Minister that he should place on record his appreciation of the work done by so many members of An Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the general public in recent days.

"I want to pay tribute especially to all the people in the local community and beyond who helped tirelessly in the search for Robert hoping against hope that this tragic outcome could be avoided."

"The family and friends of Robert know that the solidarity and support of people throughout Ireland in recent days will be with them too as they try to cope with their unbearable grief," the Minister added.