Irishman leads hunt for US serial killer

AN Irishman is leading the investigation into a suspected serial killer following the discovery of eight bodies buried on a Long Island beach in the north-eastern state of New York.

The remains of four prostitutes, aged 22 to 27, who worked through online ads posted on the internet site Craigslist, were discovered in December near Gilgo beach, 75 kilometres east of New York City. The young women disappeared on different dates between 2007 and 2010.

Investigators found three more decomposing bodies earlier this week. And the body of the eighth victim turned up on Wednesday in the brambles that separate the beach from a 15km stretch of road known as Ocean Parkway.