Mother's 'anguish' over dead son

Leonard Fulbirg came from a large family

A woman whose son's remains have just been identified seven years after they were found says she is relieved to know what happened to him.

New DNA tests have shown that bones found in 1997 are those of 49-year-old Bradford man Leonard Fulbirg.

Mr Fulbirg, who was originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, went missing in August 1996.

His mother Irene said: "After all these years of anguish...there is some relief in that I now have the answer."

Mrs Fulbirg, who is 80, explained that Leonard was born and brought up in Newcastle in a large family.

When he left school he had a number of jobs including being a rag and bone man.

I would like to remember him as a hard-working man and as a boy he was a lovely child Irene Fulbirg

His mother continued: "When he was 22 he left Newcastle to go live in London where he worked as a general dealer and got an interest in jewellery and antiques

"When he was 29 he settled in Bradford."

Police say Mr Fulbirg had been married four times and fathered up to 32 children with a number of women.

But Mrs Fulbirg said: "To my knowledge I only knew of three wedding ceremonies and five children, although I did meet another three of Leonard's girlfriends."

She continued: "The last time I saw him was when he turned up unexpectedly on his own having ridden up to Newcastle on a motorbike.

"I would like to remember him as a hard-working man and as a boy he was a lovely child."

Leonard Fulbirg's remains were found in a layby on the A6033 above Oxenhope, Keighley, West Yorkshire in March 1997. The body had been dismembered.

A 38-year-old woman from Bradford and a 38-year-old man from Dewsbury were arrested last week in connection with the inquiry and have been released on police bail.