Canal body to be moved to city morgue for post mortem

The body believed to be that of a teenager who disappeared three years ago will be moved this afternoon from the shallow grave it was found in yesterday.

The Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, is currently carrying out a second examination on the remains in an attempt to obtain an accurate identity of the body.

It is suspected that the body is that of 17-year-old, Patrick Lawlor, who vanished three years ago amid rumours that he was the victim of a row over drugs.

The remains were discovered yesterday in a search of a ditch beside the Grand Canal by gardai acting on an anonymous tip-off.

The body is to be transported to the city morgue later today where preparations for a post mortem examination will begin.

Gardai are refusing to reveal many details surrounding the discovery but they have warned that it could still be some time before a formal identification can be confirmed.