Updated at 8.56pm
A MAN IN his 30s has been arrested in connection with the discovery of body parts in the Wicklow Mountains.
The arrest was made in Co Wexford this evening and the man is currently in garda custody.
Earlier, gardaí investigating the discovery of the remains confirmed that the body parts were of a woman.
Superintendent Pat Ward said at Bray Garda Station this evening that DNA evidence and forensic examinations confirmed the victim was female, despite initial reports that the remains were of a man in his mid-20s.
The head and hands of the deceased were found in a plastic bag during search efforts in the Sally Gap today – three days after the first body part, a torso, was discovered by passers-by.
“We’re satisfied we have discovered most of body. [We're] talking about one body, not multiple bodies,” Ward said at Bray Garda Station this evening.
Gardaí said that there appeared to be no effort made to conceal the human remains, which were strewn on the side of the rural road.
They believe the person whose remains were found died in the 10 days before the first discovery was found. A murder investigation is underway.
Gardaí said they couldn’t put a precise age to the deceased.
Earlier in the investigation
The first body parts were discovered by walkers on Old Military Road in Enniskerry at around 7.45pm on Saturday night.
Three further finds of human remains were made close to the first site; in total, five body parts at four different locations have been found.
Gardaí say they believe that the body parts were thrown “in this cruel manner” out of the window of a car which was travelling along a stretch of the Old Military Road.
“That seems to be the pattern, from Glencree right down to Glenmacnass, the pattern seems to be that body parts were dispersed on the side of the road from a moving vehicle,” said Pat Ward.
“It’s very important that the public come back to us and report any suspicious activity they might have seen from 2 June onwards,” he added.
127 members of the Defence Forces are taking part in searches in the countryside as part of the investigation. The road from the Featherbeds to Laragh village – a 30km stretch – will be closed until at least the end of the week while searches continue.
Searches will continue today until 8pm. Gardaí say they may have to extend the search area, depending on their findings.
Investigators are looking for members of the public who were in the area to report anything suspicious that they may have seen. They are also appealing to people to let them know if they were present in the area since 2 June, and to provide their registration so they can be ruled out of the investigation.
Gardaí are also asking for any CCTV or dashcam footage that might have been taken by motorists.
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area or has information is asked to contact Bray Garda Station on 01 666 5300.
- With reporting from Garreth MacNamee and Cianan Brennan
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