Body of missing Irishman is returned to family after 10 years
John Roche’s remains were left unidentified for a decade after they were recovered by a fishing vessel near the Isle of Man in April 2013.
The body of a missing Irishman has been identified and returned from the Isle of Man to his family in Wicklow after 10 years, thanks to DNA testing.
John Roche’s remains were left unidentified for a decade after they were recovered by a fishing vessel near the Isle of Man in April 2013.
However, DNA material resulted in the formal identification of Mr Roche, from Killiney, in south Dublin, who was born in 1972.
Following the breakthrough, his family in Ireland was contacted and church authorities gave permission for his remains to be exhumed from Lonan Churchyard on the Isle of Man and brought home to Ireland.
A funeral service was held for him in Arklow, Co Wicklow, on December 18.
A death notice on Rip.ie said: “Roche, Griffith Street, Arklow, Co. Wicklow missing since 20th December 2012, brought home December 2023.
“John (Tayto) beloved son of the late John (Jackie) and Elizabeth (Lizzie) (née Strahan), loving daddy of Ross, dearly loved brother of Lil, Paddy, Marie, Martina, and the late Tom and Kathleen.
“He is sadly missed by his loving son, brother, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives, friends, and neighbours.”
According to the newspaper, the fishing vessel, The Anzac, recovered Mr Roche’s remains more than a decade ago.
While his identity was a mystery for 10 years, the community of Lonan on the Isle of Man came together to bury him.
Up to 20 mourners are believed to have attended the service after Methodist minister DeeDee Haine invited locals to the ceremony and a headstone was provided by a local charity.
Following a DNA match, Mr Roche’s remains were formally identified.
It is reported that Mr Roche's partner petitioned the church authorities to allow his body to be exhumed and returned home for reburial at St Gabriel’s Catholic Cemetery in Arklow and permission was granted for this.
Howard Connell, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, told the Isle of Man publication: "This is clearly a case where the discretion to authorise exhumation should be exercised."
He noted that the petition related to a "very sad set of facts".
The other members of Mr Roche’s family had also given their permission to exhume his remains.
An inquest was held into Mr Roche’s death after his body was discovered; however, a new inquest is now expected to take place on January 11.
