The Dublin county coroner's office has issued pictures of a reconstructed human head in an effort to identify a man whose skull was picked up by a fishing trawler off Lambay Island near Balbriggan, Co Dublin, almost two years ago
The unprecedented move, which includes the circulation of a range of photographs through Interpol, is part of an extensive Garda investigation to uncover the identity of the man, who is described as aged between 25 and 45.
The man's skull was recovered from the sea by the skipper of the Our Treacy, John Donnelly, on the morning of February 6th, 2006, an adjourned inquest at Dublin County Coroner's Court heard yesterday.
The skull was in the water for "probably a year or less" and for two years at the most, Lauren Buckley, a forensic anthropologist from the State Pathologist's Office, told the inquest yesterday.
Mr Donnelly, who was trawling for razorfish about half a mile south of Lambay Island, made the grim discovery upon hauling in his nets at 10am.
Mr Donnelly later discovered a human jaw bone in the cage of his boat.
The soft tissue and muscle reconstruction of the man's head, which was carried out by an expert in the field, Dr Caroline Wilkinson of the University of Dundee in Scotland, is the latest attempt in a long and extensive investigation by gardaí at Balbriggan Garda station to identify the man.
Other experts who have assisted in the identification investigation include Dr David Sweetman of the University of Vancouver, who extracted a DNA profile from the teeth of the skull, Cork-based forensic dentist Dr Paul Keogh, State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy and Dr Buckley.
Gardaí at Balbriggan Garda station began their investigation in February 2006 by making contact with the Garda Missing Persons Bureau, which revealed names of 17 people who were missing.
However, extensive research over almost two years has revealed that none of those 17 was a positive match, Det Sgt Pat Marry of Balbriggan Garda station told the court.
Gardaí first managed to eliminate 12 of the possible matches through research.
They then made contact with Dr Keogh, whose work - which involved superimposing pictures of the remaining five possible matches on to the skull - eliminated two more people from the investigation.
Another individual was eliminated through his dental records, which were sourced through Interpol.
Another person then came forward and identified themselves, which left investigating officers which just one remaining possible match, Det Sgt Marry told the inquest.
Contact was then made with Dr Sweetman in Vancouver, who was able to extract a DNA profile using teeth from the skull.
However, a comparison with DNA samples from family members has also eliminated that person from the search.
Gardaí are now hoping members of the public can assist them in identifying the man by issuing pictures of the facial reconstruction.
According to Dr Wilkinson, the reconstruction is "a true likeness" of the individual.
Speaking outside the court, Det Sgt Marry appealed to the public for their help.
"We would ask the public to assist us in identifying the person. It's somebody's son or father and we would like to put some family's anguish at rest," he said.
Anyone with information should contact Balbriggan Garda station on (01) 841 2202 or any Garda station.