Landslide may have exposed 'hikers' body

A body recovered from dangerous cliffs in the Kerry mountains today and believed to be that of a missing Swedish hiker may have been spotted after a landslide in the area days earlier.

Kerry Mountain Rescue took the remains off Mangerton Mountain, near Killarney, after they were found by a local sheep farmer.

The body has yet to be identified but it is believed to be newly-wed Olaf Jansen, 23, who was on honeymoon with his Kerry-born wife when he went missing during a three-day solo trek in Christmas 2004.

The student, an experienced climber and former Swedish Special Forces soldier, who trained in survival skills, set off on December 28.

However, when he failed to make any contact two days later the alarm was raised.

Brendan Coffey, spokesman for Kerry Mountain Rescue, said the body may have been shifted down the mountain recently.

Some 25 members of the rescue team were involved in the recovery along with two gardai and two local farmers.

“One of the farmers was the man who spotted the remains. He brought the rescue party to the area,” Mr Coffey said.

“Inaccessible would describe it. Very high cliffs and very sheer cliffs, maybe the highest inland cliffs in Ireland, 1,200ft high.

“There was a recent landslide on the mountain and we think that’s what has brought the remains to light.”

The farmer who found the body passed the exact area several days ago and no body was there, Mr Coffey added.

The remains have been taken to Tralee General Hospital but identification may take weeks.

Mr Jansen’s wife, who lives in Scotland, has been informed along with his mother-in-law who lives in Killorglin and father who lives in Sweden.

A massive search operation was launched over Christmas and New Year 2004 involving 30 members of the Kerry Mountain Rescue, the Killarney Water Rescue Team, the Civil Defence and a search and rescue helicopter, after he went missing.