Appeal to ID bodies washed up on coast

Extensive efforts to identify three bodies yet to succeed

KILRUSH Gardaí have issued an appeal for help in identifying three bodies recovered off the coast of Clare in 2010, 2016 and 2018.
Extensive efforts, including international investigations, have failed to determine their identities. The cases featured in Ireland’s Unidentified Bodies, a Virgin Media One documentary.
The programme also included Tom Doherty, a ranger at The Cliffs of Moher; Garda Deirdre Scanlan and Sergeant David O’Connor, who outlined aspects of the incidents.
In all cases, foul play was ruled out and the deceased later buried in Ennis.
Garda Mervyn Forde outlined how a body was recovered from the base of The Cliffs of Moher on July 30, 2010. DNA samples were circulated internationally.
“There was a lot of investigation carried out in relation to Interpol,” he said.
“There were possible hits from England, from Belarus and from Interpol in Minsk. These were all investigated extensively, but unfortunately, all of these avenues failed to give us a match.
“Once we had exhausted all avenues and had no results in relation to DNA or dental records, it was determined that the next course of action would be to get cranofacial reconstruction.
“This facial reconstruction image would then have been circulated through the media here locally and on Crime Call, then sent out internationally through Interpol.”
The man had been wearing Velcro strapped runners with the label ‘Indonesia and Budapest’. He is believe to have been from mainland Europe.
“It is very, very frustrating that nearly 11 years on we haven’t managed to identify this person,” he said.
In the second case, a body was found on August 14, 2016.
“We were out doing a regular Sunday evening dive,” James McMahon of Burren Sub Aqua Club told documentary makers.
“I just happened to look to my right and I saw what I thought was a seal. As I got closer, I realised it might be the body of a human…
“Usually when I go out on a search and find a body, it’s usually only missing for a week to ten days, two weeks at the longest, so it would be almost in perfect condition. That’s why I would be thinking this one was in the water maybe two months.”
Clothing included denim jeans with the label Esmara and clothing with a size tag 40/42. A black belt with a woven pattern was also recovered. The woman remains identified and was buried in 2018.
In the third case, the body of an Asian woman was recovered on October 4, 2018.
She was estimated to be approximately 5’ 8’’ in height, of slim build and aged in her early 50s.
Three items of jewellery were recovered on body; a gold ring with the word ‘Caby’ on the inside; a gold ring with green stones; and a gold bracelet.
The woman, who has not been identified to-date, was buried last year.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Kilrush Garda Station 065-9080557, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111, or any Garda Station.

by Fiona McGarry