Coroner praises West Cork gardaí for finalising case of torso found in Atlantic

The lower half of the fisherman's body was repatriated to Indonesia after his identity was established through DNA

Coroner Frank O'Connell recorded a death by drowning, "in circumstances which have not been fully established". File photo: Denis Minihane

The lower half of a body caught in dredging nets between Spain and Ireland has ended with the repatriation of a fisherman back to Indonesia and the Coroner sitting in West Cork praising gardaí for their work in finalising the case.

The inquest in Bantry heard that the torso, found 179 nautical miles south west of Ireland, was brought ashore to Castletownbere, setting off an investigation which involved Spanish authorities and Interpol before it was concluded in what was described as a "sad, sad situation".