A body recovered by fishermen in Wales has been identified as Mr Stephen Byrne, who is believed to have driven off Duncannon pier in Co Wexford last month, drowning himself and his two sons.
Mr Byrne's wife, Maeve, was found stabbed to death in their Cuffesgrange home, outside Kilkenny, on September 27th. Relatives alerted gardai when the family could not be contacted.
Mr Byrne is believed to have driven off the pier late on Monday, September 25th, or early on the 26th, drowning himself and sons Alan (10) and Shane (6).
The boys' bodies were found by locals in Duncannon on September 29th, five miles apart on a stretch of coastline towards Hook Head. Later the same day the family's white Ford Escort was raised from the sea at the end of the pier.
Fishermen recovered Mr Byrne's body last Sunday when they pulled it up in their fishing nets. They brought it to shore at Pothgain, Pembrokeshire, in west Wales.
At about 4 p.m. yesterday, the Missing Persons Bureau in Garda Headquarters informed the Wexford rescue party that Mr Byrne had been identified.
"This will be a great relief for the family and will allow them to make arrangements for the final funeral of this tragedy," said Supt Tom Saunderson of New Ross Garda Station.