Canal suitcase body: gardaí get 80 calls from the public

Gardaí believe a murder victim whose torso was found in a suitcase in a canal may have been dismembered with the use of machinery or power tools.

The inquiry team have ssued a fresh appeal to business owners following the discovery of the torso of a young man in a suitcase in the Grand Canal at Ardclough, Co Kildare, on Saturday.

They have asked people who may have been away from commercial or other premises for the weekend and who were returning yesterday (Monday) or today (Tuesday) to check for signs of any activity or clean-up effort that may have taken place.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 5

Members of thegGardai at the scene in Ardclough on Monday following the discovery of human remains. Photograph: Collins

Speaking at Leixlip Garda station where the inquiry is based, Supt Gerry Wall said the finding of the human remains represented “a very brutal crime”.

He acknowledged people, particularly in the Ardclough area, “would be shocked” by what had happened.

He wanted people to be reassured a full murder investigation was underway and would continue to receive the best efforts of the Garda.

He urged the owners of business premises and other buildings or land to check for “anything unusual” as part of the investigation into the man’s death.

A postmortem carried out by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis concluded the man was dead a maximum of three days before being found.

Supt Wall said the as-yet unidentified man was killed at another location, and the call for people to check their property was being put out into the wider community.

“I don’t want anybody to think it is just Kildare,” he said.

“The focus of our investigation is to find where the man was killed,” he said.

“We are asking people returning to their property or premises after the weekend to check to see if there was anything unusual.

“Was a room or equipment disturbed or their premises in any way different than when they left?” asked Supt Wall. “Did you as an employee or employer notice anything different in your premises?”

Supt Wall said gardaí do not yet know the identity or nationality of the man. Any speculation on the nationality of the victim was “unhelpful” at this stage.

Gardaí received more than 80 calls from the public following the initial appeal for information from people who had used the Grand Canal between Kearneystown Bridge and Henry Bridge in Ardclough between Thursday and Saturday.

“They were very helpful calls and I would ask people who have seen anything suspicious to call us,” said Supt Wall. “I would like to say we still expect to hear more from the people who were walking their dogs, cycling , spending some leisure time down by the canal - fishing - there are any number of reasons why people would be there, and we have people here ready to take their calls.”

Other Garda sources said neither the victim’s head nor hands were found in the dark grey suitcase.

It means fingerprints and dental records cannot be used to identify the remains. Unless the hands and head are found, gardaí will only be able to identify the man by taking DNA samples from relatives of missing men.

The Garda sub aqua unit scoured the river for further evidence on Sunday afternoon. Teams of gardaí and the Garda forensic division combed the canal bank.

Supt Wall thanked those who have already come forward and said anyone with information can contact Leixlip Garda station at 01 6667800 or any Garda station.