At approximately 11.30pm on 31st July 2014, Gardai at Ballyfermot Garda Station received a telephone call from an employee of Thornton’s Recycling plant at Killeen Road, Dublin 10 reporting the finding of what he suspected to be a human lower leg and attached foot.
Gardai, along with a registered medical practitioner, went to the plant that night. The registered medical practitioner determined that the body part was human. The area was immediately sealed off and declared a crime scene. On the morning of 1st August 2014 a second body part, the upper part of a left leg, was discovered on the site.
Dr. Michael Curtis, Deputy State Pathologist attended at the site on August 1st. The body parts were removed by Undertakers to Tallaght Hospital. An extensive systematic search of up to 1,000 tonnes of domestic and industrial waste on the site was carried out by the Divisional Search Team. The scene was examined by the Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit. Dr. Curtis carried out a post mortem on the victim, assisted by Dr. Laureen Buckley, Anthropologist.
The post mortem has established that the victim has been dismembered. Through DNA the victim has been identified as being male. Further DNA analysis is being undertaken by the Forensics Laboratory, Garda Headquarters to determine race. The cause of death is undetermined at this time. However, it is believed that the victim may have died 4 or 5 days prior to the discovery of the remains on July 31st 2014.
A number of other body parts have been recovered as part of the search. In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, we will not be disclosing these in detail.
We have determined that this male was aged between 25 and 45 yrs. He was between 5’8” and 6’ in height. There is evidence that this man had undergone neurosurgical treatment in the past. Neurosurgical screws were present on either side of the skull. There is evidence that this male underwent bilateral craniotomies (surgery arising from serious head trauma, such as a car accident or a serious assault). It is possible that the patient may have suffered neurological problems in the aftermath of these surgeries, such as seizure or epilepsy.
To date, we have not identified this male.
The Garda appeal is:
• To persons who are concerned about a male relative or male friend whom they have not heard from or whom they have been unable to contact since the end of June 2014 to contact Ballyfermot Garda Station or their local Garda station;
• To anyone that has any information that may assist in identifying the victim, in particular, to Neurological Consultants, Doctors, and Carers who may have treated and cared for this man
• To anyone that has any information that may assist the investigation team to contact Ballyfermot Garda station at 01 666 7200 or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111.
An extensive investigation into this matter is ongoing.
This has involved:
- Over 250 statements have been taken
- More than 300 lines of enquiry are being followed
- An extensive systematic search of up to 1,000 tonnes of domestic and industrial waste on the site
- Liaison with Interpol, the Garda Missing Person Bureau, and the Forensic Laboratory at Garda Headquarters
- Consultation with forensic and medical consultants such as neurosurgeons and neurologists
- The assistance of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation
An Garda Síochána would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable assistance provided to the investigation team by Thornton’s and their staff, the numerous persons interviewed in this investigation to date, and the professional assistance being afforded to the Gardai by forensic and medical professionals.
