Police believe that a body found in a boarded up house may have been there for more than 20 years.
Neighbours thought that the occupant of the home in Cork, Ireland, had moved to England but council staff found skeletal remains in a bed, when they were clearing the derelict property out. A tub of butter found in the fridge dated back to 2001, the Irish Mirror reports.
Irish police The Gardai cordoned off the one-storey building, which is just metres from a pub, to investigate but confirmed that they do not suspect 'foul play'. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster was due to carry out a post mortem at Cork University Hospital’s morgue last night (Saturday January 14)
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Local councillor Liam Madden said the site is one of two boarded up derelict houses on the “very busy” road which links the town to the N20. He said it was “extraordinary” that the body could have been there undiscovered for two decades.
He added: “I find it hard to imagine. But it has happened before in other towns and villages where someone has been found. If they are local, it’s a very sad reflection that someone didn’t miss this person and say where would that person be.
“The big thing is identification now, it is going to take a long time. In some of these places that are boarded up, people have gone in there to sleep... it could be anyone. It’s very sad that there’s some family out there that could be looking for this person.”
Investigators are hoping dental records will confirm the identity of the person. Officers were carrying out door to door inquiries and plan to check with utility providers to pinpoint the timing of the death.
A Gardai spokesman added: “Gardai are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body in a house in Mallow, Co Cork, at approximately 12pm, 13th of January 2023 The scene has been preserved. Inquiries are ongoing.”
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