Murder probe expected as Gardai await post mortem results

A murder investigation is expected to be launched following a post mortem examination on a body found at Sliabh Liag on Monday.

Human remains were recovered from the water below the towering south west Donegal cliffs in the early hours of Monday.

Gardai remain tight-lipped, but it is believed that the body is that of a man in his 60s who disappeared last weekend after what has been so far described as an ‘alleged assault’.

The State Pathologist, Dr Linda Mulligan, is understood to have travelled to Donegal. Dr Mulligan will carry out a post mortem examination, the results of which will determine the next steps.

Senior Gardai have already indicated that, pending the results of the post mortem and the formal identification of the body, the probe could be escalated to a murder investigation.

An incident room, under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer, has been set up at Ballyshannon Garda Station.

Two people, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, were arrested and questioned on Monday and Tuesday before being released without charge. A file has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)

The two were in a car which crashed and they were detained at separate Garda stations.

The car, belonging to the arrested man, was seized by Gardai after a warrant was obtained. It is understood that the car was splattered with blood.

A house on the outskirts of Killybegs was sealed off last Monday. Members of the Garda forensics team carried out a search of the property and uniformed Gardai remained at the scene through the week.

The identity of the missing man was not released by Gardai, but he is understood to have been socialising with two people in south-west Donegal over the weekend. It is believed that he was a man in his 60s who was originally from County Tyrone.

Donegal Live understands that Gardai and the Coast Guard returned to the area late on Sunday night.  The body was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital having been removed by an undertaker at around 7am on Monday.

The Sliabh Liag cliffs were closed to the public for much of last week as Gardai combed the area for clues.

On Thursday, the Garda Water Unit set up at Teelin Pier, a few kilometres from the cliffs and carried out further searches.

Gardai continue to appeal for information.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Investigating Gardaí are appealing to any persons travelling in the vicinity of Killybegs/Slieve League between the afternoon of Saturday 24th June 2023 and the evening of Sunday 25th June 2023 who observed any activity which drew their attention to come forward.

“Any road users travelling in these areas at these times who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballyshannon Garda Station on 071 985 8530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.”