Gardaí in Galway believe that they have established the identity of a man whose body was found in a freezer unit in the city five days ago. He was an Irish national and was in his early 50s.
However, Supt Tom Curley of Mill Street Garda station said that the name could not be released until contact had been made with all family members, some of whom have been abroad.
Gardaí would not comment on reports that they suspect his death may be drugs-related. Supt Curley said the investigation was making progress, but was still at an early stage and they were still keeping an "open mind".
The investigation is now a murder inquiry, but the cause of death cannot be established until a postmortem is carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis today.
The delay has been due to the fact that the body was frozen. It had to be allowed to thaw gradually to ensure that no vital forensic evidence was lost.
The body was discovered by a staff member of a fish shop in a freezer unit behind the premises in Henry Street, Galway, last Wednesday, and gardaí were contacted immediately.
Dr Curtis carried out a preliminary examination of the scene and the body was transferred to University College Hospital Galway.
A forensic examination of the location was conducted by the Garda technical bureau. House- to-house inquiries have also been conducted. Gardaí at Mill Street station, are still appealing for information, and can be contacted at 091-538010.
