The remains of a man who was murdered and dumped in a slurry pit in Dunmanway, west Cork are due to be flown home to his native England today.
Gary Bull's body was discovered on a farm at Shanlaragh, 8km northeast of Dunmanway on October 11th.
Gardaí had searched the farm after they received a tip-off about suspicious activity there. During the search they discovered the body of a 37-year-old man, subsequently identified as Mr Bull, in a slurry pit.
A postmortem carried out at Cork University Hospital by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster indicated that he died of head injuries which were caused by blunt instrument trauma. A murder investigation was immediately launched.
Mr Bull had lived in a mobile home in the Kilmichael area for about seven years. To date nobody has been charged with his killing. His body is to be returned for burial to Hertfordshire. Gardaí contacted his elderly parents and teenage daughters after his murder.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with his death. Files are being prepared for the DPP.
The recovery of Mr Bull's body was a major Garda operation. Members of the Civil Defence and local fire service were drafted in to assist gardaí in the sensitive and time-consuming operation.
Divers used special breathing apparatus to avoid inhaling dangerous methane gas. The operation last Friday was slow because of safety concerns, noxious fumes and the need to preserve evidence.
Anyone with information about Mr Bull's death is asked to contact gardaí in Clonakilty, Co Cork, on (023) 21570.