The family of missing German tourist Ms Bettina Poeschel (28) face a further agonising wait to discover if she is the woman whose battered body was found near Donore, Co Meath, on Wednesday.
Garda∅ say the remains, discovered in a wooded area, were badly decomposed and identification may only be possible through DNA tests or dental records. Ms Poeschel's father and sister had already planned to travel from their home in Munich this week to observe the investigation into her disappearance before Wednesday's grim discovery, but the family have now been advised to postpone their trip until Monday.
"It is their choice, of course, and we are here to meet them at any time, but we believe it may be several days before we have a confirmed identity," Supt John Farrelly of the Garda Press Office, said.
The State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison, carried out a preliminary examination at the scene and was due to conduct a full post-mortem at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan when he was called to a house on the outskirts of the town following the discovery of the bodies of a local couple, now the subject of a separate Garda investigation.
Dr Harbison was scheduled to resume his examination of the body from Donore last night, but was not expected to have any definite findings until today at the earliest.
Garda∅ say the degree of decomposition suggests the body had been lying where it was found for several weeks. This would put the time of death close to that of the disappearance of Ms Poeschel on September 25th last.
The area where the body was found is expected to remain sealed off for several days.
The possibility has not been ruled out that she may have been the victim of a hit and run by a motorist who then deliberately concealed her body.
