More than 30 prime suspects in long-term unsolved crimes in the UK, mainly rapes, have been identified by using modern DNA analysis, it emerged today.

The murder conviction of Drogheda man James Hanratty, who was hanged 40 years ago protesting his innocence, was today upheld by the UK's Court of Appeal which ruled that DNA evidence established his guilt ‘‘beyond doubt’’.

The body of James Hanratty has been reburied, five hours after being exhumed by police to collect DNA to determine whether he committed the A6 murder in England.