Murder probe launched over dismembered criminal's remains

Detectives probing the murder of a convicted criminal whose body was chopped up and dumped in a stream have issued a fresh appeal for information.

As specialist crime scene investigators spent a third day scouring woodland in Co Meath where Christopher Gaffney’s dismembered parts were discovered, gardaí urged anyone who may have spoken to the 37-year-old in the last two months to come forward.

A severed arm was found at The Mayne in Clonee on Friday by someone out walking.

Forensic officers, sniffer dogs and Garda divers uncovered more body parts, including a torso, during a further search on Saturday, which focussed on a stream and the surrounding wooded area near the IBM factory.

The remains were identified as those of Gaffney, from Blanchardstown, by matching fingerprints on the Garda database.

It is believed the victim was heavily involved with criminality and well known to gardaí, with a string of drug-related offences under his belt.

He was reported missing by his family last month.

In a statement, gardaí in Ashbourne appealed for anyone who was in touch with Gaffney to contact them.

“We are also appealing to any person or persons who may have witnessed any suspicious or unusual activity involving people or vehicles over the past number of days or weeks, in the Kilbride or The Mayne area, close to the Porterstown Road, Clonee, County Meath, to come forward with any information,” it added.

Gardaí said they believed the victim suffered a gruesome death before his body was chopped up and dumped.

The parts were removed from the scene to Connolly Hospital where Deputy State Pathologist Dr Khalid Jabbar was due to carry out a post-mortem examination.

Detectives said the results of the post-mortem would further determine the nature and direction of their investigation.

The scene in Clonee remains sealed off.