Remains found in search for rapist whose arm washed up on beach

Gardaí searching for the body of convicted rapist James Nolan at a site in Finglas, Dublin, have discovered human remains. It is understood that a torso was uncovered in a search at Tolka Valley Park on Monday afternoon.

A dismembered arm found washed up on Dollymount Beach on February 8th, 2011, was confirmed to be that of Mr Nolan’s following DNA analysis.

Earlier this month, detectives said they had received information suggesting a site at the park was an “area of interest”.

Mr Nolan, from Fairlawn Road in Finglas, Co Dublin, was 46 years old when he was last seen at the Wellmount Clinic in Finglas on November 30th, 2010, where he collected methadone.

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He had recently been released from Portlaoise Prison, having served time for burglary. Previously, he had been jailed for 14 years after being convicted of rape and false imprisonment.

Since the discovery of Mr Nolan’s arm, a Garda investigation has been underway to determine the circumstances of his death and the location of his body.

Cadaver dog

A dig of the park using specialist equipment and a cadaver dog, which is trained to find human remains, has been ongoing since April 1st. Senior gardaí leading the operation had anticipated the search could take up to three weeks, describing the park as “difficult terrain” with a lot of “scrub and undergrowth”.

At Nolan's inquest, State pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy told Dublin Coroner's Court that his arm had been "cleanly" severed after death using a very sharp knife, and tattoos had been cut from the skin to prevent his identification.

“A propeller can leave quite a clean mark on a body but they are usually longer. These were very carefully and deliberately going around the whole circumference of the limb. It was deliberately cut,” she said.

The arm had been dismembered at the shoulder and wrist. Prof Cassidy told the court there was no evidence of any bleeding or blood loss into the tissues, indicating that Nolan was dead when the cuts were made.