Murder charge for son of woman found in shallow grave

The son of a Dublin woman whose body was discovered in a shallow grave in a Scottish nature reserve has been charged in connection with her murder.

James Dunleavy, aged 39, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday charged in connection with his mother Phyllis’s murder.

Her remains were found on the city’s Corstorphine Hill by a cyclist last month, but were only formally identified yesterday by police as those of the 66-year-old Dublin woman.

It is understood her son lived near the place where the body was found.

The identification followed a major appeal which spanned the globe.

Ms Dunleavy’s remains gave detectives few clues, but they circulated photographs of her distinctive rings, including a Claddagh ring, and published details of her dental work in dentist trade magazines.

The investigation team received more than 30 calls from members of the public as far away as Israel after releasing a facial reconstruction image.

The picture was produced by experts at Dundee University using CT scans of the woman’s skull.

It is understood 23 possible names were put forward by members of the public to police. A family member here saw the image and contacted police.

Police said on Friday that they had identified the body, before naming Ms Dunleavy yesterday.

When he appeared in court yesterday, Dunleavy made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination.

He was remanded in custody and is due to appear again on Jul 17.