Car row motive behind body in bog

Detectives are investigating if a Brazilian man whose body was found in a bog was murdered during a row over a car.

The victim, named locally as Bruno Limes de Souza Silva, was reported missing from his home in Gort, Co Galway, last month.

Gardaí are examining claims the 28-year-old was killed in a house in Co Kerry following an argument over a car he was trying to buy or sell.

Two men, a 19-year-old Irish man and a Brazilian, 24, remain in Garda custody in separate stations in Co Kerry.

A spokesman for the Brazilian Embassy in Ireland said consular staff are in touch with the victim’s girlfriend in Gort, Patricia Silva – who first reported him missing.

A sister living in Ireland and their family in Anapolis, in the state of Goias, are also being kept up to date with any developments, he said.

“We are in touch with his family,” he said.

“His family have been in touch with us before to say he was missing.

“At the moment we do not know too much and we are waiting to see what happens from the gardaí.”

Mr De Souza Sila came to Ireland eight years ago and was last in touch with the embassy in 2010 when he renewed his passport.

It is understood his last known movements were in Ballyduff, where detectives believe he was assaulted on the day he went missing before being dumped in the bog in Ballylongford, north Kerry.

His remains were discovered yesterday afternoon after a planned search.

Forensic officers from the Garda Technical Bureau and deputy state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster have carried out a technical examination at the bog and at a number of other suspect scenes of crime.

They include a house in Ballyduff and an area near Ferry Bridge in Ballyduff - where the search is continuing for possible weapons.

The body has been taken to Kerry General Hospital in Tralee for a post mortem examination.