Police 'close to identifying body'

Remains were found at a disused cattle market at Linenhall Street

Detectives investigating the murder of a man in County Londonderry say they are close to identifying the badly burned body.

Police have been contacted by relatives of a man who has been missing, it emerged on Tuesday.

Detectives investigating the murder in Limavady on Sunday have yet to establish a motive for the killing.

They have been granted an extra 36 hours to interview two men arrested in connection with the incident.

Police still do not know the identity of the victim, but Detective Chief Inspector Jim Gault said they were following a "very specific" line of inquiry.

"I would hope that within the next 24 to 36 hours we may well be in a position to confirm the identity of the deceased," the senior investigating officer said on Tuesday.

"We have seen the families of a number of missing persons and we are in contact with the family of the person whom we believe the deceased to be."

The remains were found at a disused cattle market at Linenhall Street on Sunday.

Post mortem

A post mortem examination on Monday established that the victim, whose body was badly burned, was a male.

The body was so charred that police in Limavady had been unable to determine the sex.

Detectives believe the man may have been killed and then his body moved in a wheeled bin.

On Tuesday, police renewed their appeal for information.

'Wheelie bin'

Detective Chief Inspector Gault said the PSNI had received a lot of help from the public.

Police had narrowed down the time-frame for the events of the weekend, but still wanted to hear anyone who had friends or relatives unaccounted for, he said.

"We are now keen to hear from anyone who was in the Linenhall Street and Main Street areas from about 0400 BST onwards on Sunday," said DCI Gault.

"Some people may still have been on the street with others driving through. In particular we would like to hear from anyone who saw a wheelie bin being pushed through the central car park and on to Linenhall Street."

On Monday, a PSNI spokesman said: "A post mortem has established that the victim of the weekend murder in Limavady was an adult male who was about 5ft 6ins or 5ft 7ins tall.

"At this stage, the identity of the man remains unknown, and police are still appealing for information from anyone who may have a relative or friend unaccounted for.

"No details of the cause of death are available."