Gardai search woodland at the Mayne in Clonee, west Dublin, as detectives investigating the discovery of a human arm in the wooded area are continuing their search for other body parts.

Gardai search woodland at the Mayne in Clonee, west Dublin, as detectives investigating the discovery of a human arm in the wooded area are continuing their search for other body parts.

Gardai search woodland at the Mayne in Clonee, west Dublin, as detectives investigating the discovery of a human arm in the wooded area are continuing their search for other body parts.

Gardai search woodland at the Mayne in Clonee, west Dublin, as detectives investigating the discovery of a human arm in the wooded area are continuing their search for other body parts.

SEARCHES are continuing for more body parts following the discovery of chopped up remains in Co Meath.

The victim, a 37-year-old convicted criminal named locally as Christopher Gaffney, was identified by his fingerprints on the Garda database.

It is believed the man, from Blanchardstown, was heavily involved with criminality.

Gardai today issued an appeal for information in relation to the case as they formally launch a murder .

They are appealing to anyone who may have spoken with or who had contact with the victim in the past two months to contact the Gardai in Ashbourne.

They are also appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious or unusual activity involving people or vehicles over the past number of days or weeks in the Kilbride/The Mayne area to come forward.

A human arm was discovered in a wooded area at The Mayne in Clonee on Friday by a person out walking.

Other body parts, including a torso, were found on Saturday as forensic officers, sniffer dogs and Garda divers searched a stream in the area close to the IBM factory.

The victim was reported missing by a family member three weeks ago.

Detectives are awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination on the body parts - carried out by Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Khalid Jabbar, at Connolly Hospital - to determine an exact cause of death.

This will help them decide upon the nature and direction of their investigation.

But it is understood the victim suffered a gruesome death before his body was chopped up and dumped.

The scene in Clonee remains sealed off for further forensic searches.

Gardai have appealed for anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area in recent weeks to come forward.

PA Media