Gardai hunt Linda’s pal after body found in the woods

Appeal made after horrific discovery

GARDAI are looking to talk to a male friend of missing Linda Christian whose body is believed to have been found on Monday. A postmortem was due to be carried out last night on the female remains which were discovered in an area of undergrowth in the Coolmine Woods, Blanchardstown, West Dublin. The horrific discovery was made during a planned search between Clonsilla Road and Snugborough Road, while gardai were looking for Linda. State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy was called to examine the body which has yet to be formally identified. The male friend, who is a non-national and who gardai are hoping will help them with their enquiries, is understood to no longer be in Ireland and is now back in his home country. A source said due to the hot weather the decomposition on the remains has resulted in it being hard to identify it as Ms Christian but due to the clothes on the body it would appear to be her. They added: “Confirmation by DNA is needed to guarantee it is definitely her. At the moment it looks like it is murder due to the way the body was disposed but it can’t be guaranteed until the cause of death is returned following postmortem.” Gardai are now seeking to interview those who knew her in a bid to piece together her last movements. The source continued: “Gardai are looking to talk to anyone who knew Ms Christian’s final movements or who may have talked or seen her in recent weeks.

EUROPE

“Officers would like to talk to a male friend of hers who is believed to be now in Eastern Europe to help them with their investigation.” The 29-year-old was last seen on June 24 with detectives previously saying they were “very concerned for her welfare”. Local residents spoke of their shock at the grim discovery. One man, who walks through the Coolmine Woods every day on his way to and from work, simply said: “It’s horrific.” Other locals echoed the resident’s sense of shock and horror as they walked by the scene.