Skeletal remains post-mortem concluded

A post-mortem examination has been completed on skeletal remains discovered in county Cork earlier this week.

Gardaí have confirmed that efforts to identify the remains found on Monday in Rostellan in East Cork are ongoing.

A garda spokesperson told the Cork Independent that no further details are currently being provided for operational reasons.

Since the discovery of the remains, it is understood that gardaí have been poised to commence a murder investigation if the remains are found to be those of missing Cork man Kieran Quilligan.

Mr Quilligan, 47, disappeared without a trace from Cork city in September at which time gardaí said they feared for his safety.

Following his disappearance, gardaí began a major search operation which initially covered parts of Little Island.

Mr Quilligan was last seen at a homeless shelter in Cork and was reported missing on 1 September.

In a previous statement, gardaí confirmed that investigations into establishing the identity of the deceased are ongoing, and that the area continues to be cordoned off for forensic and technical examination.

The remains are reported to have been found with the help of a search dog at a spot just off the Midleton to Whitegate road.