The family of a murdered Irish teen face an anxious wait to find out if human remains found in Drogheda belong to the 17-year-old.
The grim find of the skeletal remains - that officers are confident belong to the teenage boy who was brutally killed and dismembered in January last year - were discovered in a deep ravine behind the Rathmullen Park housing estate in Drogheda, Co Louth.
However, the remains have not yet been officially identified as those of the teen whose limbs were found scattered in several Dublin locations just days after his death.
According to a statement issued to our sister title The Star, gardai have confirmed DNA analysis of the remains has to take place - and this could take some time.
It stated: “The identity of the human remains are not known at this time. This will require DNA analysis which will take a period of time.”
Gardai began searching the wasteland earlier this month following a crucial tip-off from a man who came forward.
Gardai were told to search around the specific area after the tip-off and the following day, the remains were located in a shallow grave.
More than 40 gardai, including members of the Garda Technical Bureau, were involved in the massive search.
Although the remains have not yet been formally identified as those of the butchered teen, gardai are confident they have found his remaining body parts.
Gardai suspect at least eight people were involved in the teen’s gruesome murder.
The victim cannot be named due to a recent Court of Appeal judgement which prevents the media from identifying a deceased child victim of crime.
