Coroners support body parts database proposed by senator Colm Burke

Coroners have given their backing for a new proposal that would see the creation of a central database for unidentified bodies and body parts in the hope of speedier identification.

Fine Gael senator Colm Burke has sent the proposal, prepared by René Gapert, a forensic anthropologist and human remains specialist, to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.

It would mean a central location for the small number of unidentified bodies and body parts found around the country and which are currently held in different mortuaries, as well as links to agencies such as Forensic Science Ireland, which operates the country’s DNA database, An Garda Síochána, and the offices of coroners around the country.

Aspects of the proposal were discussed at the AGM of the Coroner’s Society of Ireland over the weekend, with the group then voting in favour of it.

Dr Gapert said that, in addition to the backing of the coroners, the idea had the support of the Missing Persons Unit in An Garda Síochána, the Office of the State Pathologist, and Forensic Science Ireland.

“It concentrates all the information throughout the country in one place,” said Dr Gapert, adding that it may help streamline investigations, particularly in instances where foul play may be suspected.

It is a central point. It is a place that gardaí and coroners can contact to ask for advice on how to process unidentified remains.

The proposal argues that there is slow or non-existent communication between main stakeholders in human identification cases, inefficient information exchange on crucial case stages, and the lack of a centralised depository for unidentified human remains and forensic human tissue samples. It urges the minister to consider establishing a section for unidentified remains.

Dr Gapert is the only Irish practitioner asked to assist in identification of remains from the Grenfell Tower disaster in London.

He said missing persons agencies in Britain are also supportive of the proposal as they believe it would assist in any possible cross-border element with some finds.

We have to see how the minister will respond to it,” he said.

In the letter to Mr Flanagan, Mr Burke wrote: “There was a case over the last 12 months where a body was washed off the coast in Louth over 10 years ago but it was only identified within the last 12 months that it was the remains of a person who had been reported missing in Dublin some months beforehand.”

Mr Burke’s Missing Persons Bill, which could help families of missing persons who are presumed dead to settle their affairs, could become law by the end of the year. It has already received the backing of the Seanad.

Regarding the proposal for the central database, Denis Cusack, a coroner for Kildare, said coroners welcomed the proposal, adding that a specialised unit could help pull together all the expertise required and help the most important people in the whole process, the families of the missing people.