The man whose badly decomposed body was found in a disused shed near Dublin Airport on Sunday night is understood to have previous criminal convictions and was most likely murdered by criminal associates, Garda sources said.
A post-mortem on the body of Mr Noel Heffernan (35), of Ballyfermot Road, Dublin, was continuing yesterday evening. A murder inquiry has been launched.
Garda sources said Mr Heffernan had been missing from his home since August 5th, and was on the Garda's missing persons file. He was described as "a small-time criminal".
His body was recovered from a shed on Barberstown Lane, off the New Naul Road. i were unable to formally identify him. with The body was recovered from the a shed on Barbarstown Lane, off the new Naul Road.
Identification proved difficult because the man suffered severe head injuries, according to Supt Albert Treacy, of Santry Garda Station, who is leading the investigation.
The body was found around 8.30 p.m. on Sunday by a local girl walking her dog with her father and sister. The dog ran into the shed and the girl followed it.
Gardai from Santry were immediately contacted and early yesterday morning a Garda forensic team and the State pathologist, Dr John Harbison arrived at the scene.
According to Garda sources Mr Heffernan was blindfolded, severely beaten and possibly shot, before being dumped in the shed. The attackers covered the body with mounds of clay.
The shed was empty apart from the body and there were no signs of a struggle, according to gardai. The A-shaped frame shed is up to 150 ft from the road and is partially obscured by large hedges.
Gardai estimate he was in the shed for at least 10 days and because of recent hot weather his body had significantly decomposed.
The shed is part of a group of outhouses, once part of a local farm, but now on land owned by Aer Rianta. It is an area frequented by aeroplane "spotters". The land will become part of Aer Rianta's new northern runway to be built later in the this year.
Supt Treacy said there were few houses in the area, but the New Naul Road could be busy at certain times.
Santry Garda Station appealed to any person in the Barberstown Lane and New Naul Road area between Thursday, August 5th, and Sunday, August 15th, to come forward if they saw anything unusual.
"There may have been some courting couples in the area during the period we are examining and we would like them to come forward with any information they have. We will deal with them in total confidence," Supt Treacy said.
The telephone number at Santry is (01) 8422266 and the Garda confidential line is 1800 666111.