In Dublin, a case is being reviewed regarding a body that remained unidentified for over a year despite the presence of identification documents. In November 2023, a man's body was discovered in Phoenix Park. During the initial investigation, an officer found a backpack near the body containing a resume in the name of James O'Neill. However, police later dismissed this lead as they found no records matching the name. The body was kept at the Dublin City Morgue until December 2024. A year later, a forensic anthropologist examining the remains found documents in an inner pocket of the man's waxed jacket, which confirmed his identity. Dr. Maura Collinán, State Pathologist for Dublin, apologized to the O'Neill family in a letter to their Belfast-based solicitors for the 'oversight' that caused an unreasonable delay and suffering to the family. The O'Neill parents were informed about the discovery on December 13, 2024. They have filed a complaint with the Police Ombudsman's Office, questioning why the police failed to identify the body for 13 months and did not issue a public appeal through national media or their website. An investigation is currently underway into the circumstances of the case.
