Gardai said today that the process of identifying the body found in a suitcase in the Grand Canal will take “several days”.
The man’s remains were found by some young people who were walking along the waterway near Ardclough village at the weekend.
Gardaí in Leixlip are leading the investigation. It is their belief that the man may have been killed at a house party on Thursday night before he was dismembered and dumped in the water.
Former Detective Sergeant Alan Bailey said that DNA will be key to uncovering the man’s identity in this investigation.
“DNA will be crucial,” he said.
“There could be a historical medical or surgical intervention that might assist, it may be that someone had a broken arm or broken leg at some stage, or some operation scars on the torso, but for the most part, you’re dependent on DNA.
“And to have that, you must also have a DNA sample, familial DNA from the missing person’s family.”