Skeletal remains those of Dublin man (28)

GARDAÍ HAVE begun a criminal investigation after identifying the skeletal remains discovered in the Dublin mountains as those of James McDonagh.

The 28-year-old from Islandbridge Court, Dublin, disappeared 14 months ago. Gardaí had been working on the assumption that he was abducted and killed by a west Dublin gang.

Dental records were used to identify the remains which were scattered over a wide area.

The remains were discovered by two walkers on Sunday morning at Slieve na mBan Óg mountain, about 14km from Tallaght.

It seems the remains were disturbed by an uprooted tree, which may have been unearthed by recent high winds.

There were no clothes, wallet or any other item that could have identified Mr McDonagh.

A postmortem was carried out at the City Morgue in Marino yesterday. State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy, the Garda Technical Bureau and forensic anthropologist Dr Laureen Buckley were involved in identifying the remains.

Mr McDonagh was last seen in Bluebell, Dublin, at 3pm on October 27th, 2010.

His wine-coloured 2002 Mazda 626 was found burned out near Peamont Hospital in Newcastle, Co Dublin, later that day. Anyone with information should contact gardaí on 01-666 9700.