DNA TESTS on human remains recovered from a car found by divers in the river Blackwater may solve a 22-year-old mystery.
The remains and items of clothing were taken from a Daihatsu car buried in silt in the river at Fermoy, Co Cork.
It is believed the remains are those of William Fennessy (54), a former county councillor, publican and auctioneer, from Glenabo, outside Fermoy, who has been missing since March 1990.
Divers from the Blackwater Sub Aqua Search and Rescue Unit found what is thought to be Mr Fennessy’s car during a routine training exercise on Monday.
Mr Fennessy’s brother James and his wife Noreen watched divers make multiple descents to the submerged car on Tuesday.
Gardaí believe the car may have been embedded in silt on the northern banks of the river 300m west of the town’s main bridge.
DNA tests and dental record checks will be carried out.
Local councillor John Murphy said he hoped the discovery would bring closure to the Fennessy family. “He served on the county council, we were friends, I knew him very well,” Mr Murphy said. “They are a family of decent people, a good community family, and, while the remains have not yet been formally identified, it is 99 per cent sure that it’s him because of the car.”
Mr Fennessy’s bank accounts were never accessed after he was last seen. His family have campaigned for 22 years for information.