Gardaí suspect that the body found off the coast of Donegal is that of a missing man who vanished over a week earlier - when a report was made that he was thrown from a cliff.
As a post-mortem examination following the discovery at Slieve League yesterday morning is set to take place, DNA is being used as part of the identification process.
Although it has yet to be confirmed, cops believe it is a man in his 60s who is originally from up north and who had vanished on the weekend of June 25 and 26.
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Sources said that it is likely that the case will be upgraded to murder, but added that the results of the PM will ultimately decide what process is taken.
The Irish Mirror can reveal that a female suspect in the case has been admitted to a medical facility in the past week.
We have also learned that another suspect, a man, is a person of interest in another violent assault.
The well-educated man had returned to Ireland following a stint abroad in recent years, where he enjoyed success in his career.
At 4am yesterday morning, a body was found in the water off the well-known tourist area.
It came a week after gardai initially launched a search after they received an alarming report that a man was beaten with a rock and thrown off the cliff at Slieve League.
After 8am, the body was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for a post-mortem.
Local reports said the examination may not take place until this morning at the hospital.
Investigators, who have set up an incident room at Ballyshannon Garda station, will have to wait for the results of that post-mortem to progress their case.
A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were arrested last week but later released without charge.
The man who went missing had been socialising in the Kilcar, Glenties or Slieve League area in the days leading up to the weekend of his disappearance.
A major line of inquiry is that he was targeted after he made an advance on a woman, but detectives have not ruled out a row over money after he was seen with bundles of cash.
A jeep-type car is still being held and examined by Gardai as part of their investigation.
Splatters of blood found in the car will play a major role in the direction of any criminal investigation when cross-matched with DNA taken from the body recovered from the sea.
A house in the Killybegs area was also sealed off and examined by Gardai as part of their investigation.
Local county councillor Niamh Kennedy said at least now there is some form of closure following a week of searching.
She told us: "It's really sad and upsetting news for the entire area. People are relieved that a body has been found and there can be some sort of closure for the family.
"A formal identification will have to be done now and Gardai have appealed for any possible footage to come forward so they can piece the whole thing together.
"As I said, it has been a traumatic time for everyone so my condolences go to everyone involved."
A Garda spokesman appealed for information, and said: "An Garda Siochana are continuing to investigate all the circumstances of an alleged assault that is reported to have occurred in the Slieve League/Killybegs area of County Donegal between Saturday 24th June 2023 and Sunday 25th June 2023.
"Investigating Gardaí are appealing to any persons travelling in the vicinity of Killybegs/Slieve League between the afternoon of Saturday 24th June 2023 and the evening of Sunday 25th June 2023 who observed any activity which drew their attention to come forward.
"Any road users travelling in these areas at these times who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.
"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballyshannon Garda Station on 071 985 8530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station."
