Readers like you keep news free for everyone.
More than 5,000 readers have already pitched in to keep free access to The Journal.
For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can help keep paywalls away.
# mysteries
Possible sighting of Tom Kennedy hailing taxi in Dublin on night he went missing
A separate mystery – of the man with the brain surgery, whose dismembered remains were found in July – will also feature in tonight’s Crimecall.
Updated 9.45pm
TWO RECENT DUBLIN mysteries featured on tonight’s Crimecall programme on RTÉ.
The family of Tom Kennedy will be in studio to issue another appeal for information about the missing man.
Last month, gardaí widened the search to Baldoyle because of a possible sighting.
On 20 August, there was a report of a possible sighting of Tommy from the time he went missing on 29 July from a taxi man who had just returned from holiday. He remembers a man, matching Tommy’s description, hailing a taxi on Liam Meadows Road in the early hours of 30 July.
CCTV images of the 81 year old in the days before his disappearance will be shown and gardaí will give an update on his disappearance.
Tommy was last seen putting out the bins at his family home in Virgina Park, Finglas at about 9.20pm.
When his grandson came home later that evening, he raised the alarm. Gardaí, Civil Defence and the local community have continued the search for the pensioner every night since but to no avail.
Body parts
The mystery of the dismembered body parts found in Ballyfermot in July will also be featured in tonight’s programme.
On the night of 31 July, human remains were found at a recycling plant at Killeen Road and almost two months on, gardaí are still trying to identify the victim.
Investigators have sifted through about 1,000 tonnes of waste at the plant, finding further remains in the search.
- A post-mortem revealed that the body parts belong to a European male (nationality and ethnicity unknown), aged between 25 and 45 years old, who was between 5’8″ and 6′ in height.
- He also had screws in his skull from a “bilateral decompressive craniotomy” - brain surgery.
Detective Inspector Colm O’Malley will be in studio tonight to make a fresh appeal for information.
At the time of the grim discovery, gardaí said they had about 300 lines of inquiry open. Gardaí are also liaising with Interpol and the missing person bureau as part of their investigations.
The investigation team at Ballyfermot Garda Station is seeking the public’s assistance to identify the remains, and also to identify the location where the remains were disposed of into a skip.
New lines of inquiry
The gardaí are now pursuing lines of inquiry relating to the presence of red franking ink ribbon (above), and acetic acid on the remains.
The ink ribbon is that used in a SM 26 Franking Machine. The remnants of a spool of this ink ribbon were found amongst other material adjacent to the remains, gardaí said.
They said that the post-mortem determined that the human remains are contaminated with acetic acid.
Gardaí explained:
This chemical is widely used domestically as in vinegar and food preservatives, and industrially as in textile printing, dyes, photographic chemicals, pesticides, rubber and plastics. Acetic acid is a toxic chemical with a pungent smell.
Garda are appealing to :
- Persons who have concerns for family or friends whom they have been unable to contact since July, particularly for anyone that had surgery following a brain trauma
- Person(s) who disposed of, or who have knowledge of who disposed of franking ink ribbon in the last week of July
- Members of the public who noticed an unusually strong vinegary smell adjacent to their place of residence or work environment, during the month of July
Anyone concerned should contact Ballyfermot Garda Station at 01-6667200 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Reconstructions
The show will also feature two reconstructions. One of the movements of Paul Gallagher before he was shot a number of times in July. His body was found in a field in Ballymacan, county Meath.
He is survived by his three-year-old son.
The second reconstruction will examine events of the August Bank Holiday Weekend at the Shamrock Lodge pub in Finglas.
At 6.15am on 4 August, two armed raiders pretending to be from the gas company told a member of staff they were there to deal with an emergency.
They threatened the member of staff, forced their way onto the premises and forced him to show them where the keys were kept. Using the keys, they let three more members of the gang into the property.
The employee was tied up and left in the safe room. The robbers got away in a van with cash, cigarettes and alcohol.
First published 7.15am
More: Neurosurgical screws discovered in skull found at Dublin recycling plant
“It’s getting difficult to keep hope.” Tom Kennedy’s family hold ‘Light of Hope’ service as search goes on
