Home / Crime and Justice / NI Man's Body Unidentified in Dublin Morgue for Over a Year
NI Man's Body Unidentified in Dublin Morgue for Over a Year
20 Jan
Summary
- James O'Neill's body lay unidentified in Dublin morgue for over a year.
- He carried nine separate identification items when discovered.
- Family seeks answers from police ombudsman investigation into the case.
A man from Northern Ireland, James O'Neill, 43, was found dead in Dublin's Phoenix Park in November 2023. His body remained unidentified in a Dublin morgue for over 13 months, with his family in Belfast only being notified in December 2024. The family is now seeking answers regarding the Gardaí investigation into his death.
James O'Neill was discovered carrying nine separate identification items. Despite this, he was placed in the morgue as an unidentified person. His father expressed bewilderment at the lack of a public appeal by the Gardaí and hopes for processes to be implemented to prevent similar oversights. The family's solicitor highlighted serious shortcomings and called the case tragic yet preventable.
An inquest into O'Neill's death, initially scheduled for last week, has been adjourned. The family has also engaged a former state pathologist to review the case. The office of the police ombudsman in the Republic of Ireland, Fiosrú, has confirmed it met the O'Neill family and has an ongoing investigation into the matter, thus declining further comment.
