Two charged over Kerry bog body

Two men have been charged in connection with the discovery of a body of a Brazilian man found in a bog in north Kerry yesterday.

The men, aged 19 and 28 years, are due to appear before a sitting of Newcastle West district court tomorrow morning.

The body of Bruno Limes de Souza Silva was found by gardaí at about 2pm yesterday during a planned search of Shronowen Bog at Tullamore, some 8kms north of Listowel and west of Ballylongford.

The 28-year-old  had been missing from his home in Gort, Co Galway, since February 16th.

Gardaí have upgraded their inquiry to a murder investigation after a post-mortem examination confirmed that Mr de Souza Silva (28) died a violent death.

Gardaí believe Mr de Souza Silva left his home in Gort to go to Kerry to buy a car and they are investigating whether he may have become involved in some dispute over the car which may have led to his death.

The body was found in a hole in the bog not far from a track across the bog, and gardaí believe his body may have been covered but had become exposed by the elements.

A spokesman for the Brazilian Embassy in Ireland said consular staff are in touch with the victim's girlfriend in Gort, Patricia Silva - who first reported him missing.

A sister living in Ireland and their family in Anapolis, in the state of Goias, are also being kept up to date with any developments, he said.

"We are in touch with his family," he said.

"His family have been in touch with us before to say he was missing.

"At the moment we do not know too much and we are waiting to see what happens from the gardaí"

Mr De Souza Sila came to Ireland eight years ago and was last in touch with the embassy in 2010 when he renewed his passport.

It is understood his last known movements were in Ballyduff, where detectives believe he was assaulted on the day he went missing before being dumped in the bog in Ballylongford.