Leitrim former Garda diver believes 'foul play' may have caused death of man who was washed up on beach
Local man Jim Brennan told the Irish Independent that he believes somebody knows something about how the a man ended up washed up on Tullaghan Strand, 40 years ago
A Leitrim man, who was a former diver with the Garda Water Support Unit, has said that he believes foul play could have led to the death of a man whose body was washed ashore at Knockbrack, Tullaghan Strand in May, 40 years ago.
Local man, Jim Brennan, told the Irish Independent that he believes somebody knows something about how the man ended up on the beach.
Mr Brennan successfully campaigned for the body to be exhumed for DNA testing in 2021 but no match was found for the man on any Irish or European databases.
The man aged somewhere between 30 and 50, was buried at St Clare’s Cemetery, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim and Mr Brennan visits the grave.
He said: “I find it very sad to see that there are graves alongside him, and they are all looked after and decorated, but this little patch lies with no recognition of who is there or why he is there.”
He added that he believed his relatives are “either ashamed of the man or afraid to get involved. He could be a renegade in a family and they didn’t want anything to do with him.”
Mr Brennan said that as the incident took place at the height of the Troubles, this could be a factor. “Maybe he said or did the wrong thing and paid with his life.”.
Having discussed the case with maritime experts, local fishermen and former state pathologist John Harbison, Mr Brennan said he believed the man could entered the water upstream in the River Duff, which empties into Donegal Bay on the Sligo/Leitrim border near Tullaghan Strand.
The man had distinctive tattoos; on the left upper arm, two thin, rapier-like swords with red handles were crossed in front of a green heart-like or shield shape and on the left forearm the word “ÉIRE” was tattooed in front of a green-coloured shape.
On the right upper arm was a green shamrock and on the right forearm was a dagger with a red handle in a green scabbard.
“I’m not entirely convinced he wasn’t done away with,” Mr Brennan said. “I know the tattoos suggest he would be of a very republican leaning, but they also look like tattoos which were common in the Irish regiments of the British army.”
When found, he had a dark leather belt with a silver buckle bearing the words “Malt Liquor” and “Schlitz/Schlutz”, featuring an image of a bull.
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The man’s height was estimated to be between five-foot-four and five-foot-seven
Mr Brennan concluded: “It’s a long time since he left this earth, and people should consider that long-lost uncle or brother who never came home.”