The man whose body was found in a freezer in a cold store room in Galway city had been missing for five years, gardaí have established.
Patrick McCormack (52) was last seen alive in Dublin in June 2002. Initially, his brother reported that he had been missing since October 3rd, 2003, but he was uncertain of the date.
An investigation of Garda files reported that Mr McCormack, of Upper Artane Cottages, Malahide Road, Dublin, was still alive in June 2002. Two specific dates at the start and end of June 2002 are being considered as the last reported sighting.
His Opel Vectra car, registration number 97 D 9981, was later found abandoned in Shannon, Co Clare.
Supt Tom Curley, from Mill Street Garda station, said: "We can establish a timeframe that he's missing and it could also be a factor in relation to his time of death."
A photograph of Mr McCormack was released by the Garda last night, a week after his body was found by the Iranian-born owner of the Mermaid Fish Shop on Henry Street. It is not known when the picture was taken.
A postmortem on Mr McCormack's body will be carried out this morning by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis.
The postmortem was delayed because of the frozen state of his body, which had been in a deep freeze for a considerable period of time.
He had been badly beaten up and his hands were tied behind his back.
Mr McCormack was known to gardaí and was suspected of being involved in drug dealing in the west of Ireland. He had previous convictions for robbery, though none for drug dealing.
