Man found in freezer was missing for five years

A fish shop owner who found a dead body in his freezer today spoke of his shock at the grim discovery.

The man, who did not want to be named, said he is in the dark about how the remains of 52-year-old Patrick McCormack ended up in deep-freeze at the back of Galway’s Mermaid Fish Shop.

Gardaí said they have not ruled out the possibility the man may have been hidden in the freezer for some time, with Mr McCormack’s last reported sighting in 2002.

A murder investigation is under way and a post mortem exam is expected to take place today.

“I tell you I was extremely shocked when this all happened,” said the shop owner.

“I found the body myself and I tell you, it’s not every day that I find a body in my freezer.”

Asked about the possibility the body could have been hidden in deep-freeze for some time, he said: “I find it as hard to believe as everybody else.

“I don’t know anything about that. I’m completely in the dark about that.”

The shop is now reopened for business and the owner said he was overwhelmed by the amount of support received from the local community.

“It has been very hard and I’m just trying to get everything back in order.

“I have never before in my life experienced such kindness from people.”

Mr McCormack’s body was discovered last Wednesday afternoon in the Henry Street area of Galway and gardaí were contacted immediately.

The Henry Street and St John’s Avenue area were sealed off and extensively examined by the Garda Technical Bureau.

A preliminary exam was carried out by the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis following the discovery.

The delay in carrying out a full post mortem exam was caused by the length of time the body was in deep-freeze.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Crimecall programme last night, Superintendent Tom Curley from Galway’s Mill Street Garda Station said the body was found in a plastic container in the freezer.