Body on Bardsey was man who died in Dublin

A BODY found washed up on the Llyn Peninsula was that of an Irish man who died of a suspected heart attack weeks earlier.

The Abersoch lifeboat crew were called following reports of a body in the water near Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island) on September 19 this year.

Initial investigations had failed to identify the body, mainly due to its poor condition.

But at an inquest in Caernarfon on Tuesday afternoon, coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones confirmed DNA evidence matched 64-year-old William Gaule, whose body has now been repatriated to Ireland.

Mr Gaule, a father of one, was last seen on September 6, having gone missing from his home in Malahide, County Dublin.

Despite extensive searches along the Irish coast, co-ordinated by the Civil Defence and Irish Coast Guard, Mr Gaule was not found.

Mr Jones confirmed Mr Gaule had died of a suspected heart attack.

Coroner Mr Jones said: “Thanks to the combined efforts of North Wales Police and the Garda, a shortlist was compiled of whose body it was likely to be.

“DNA samples were obtained from relatives, and a match was made.

“Mr Gaule, who worked as a financial controller and accountant, was probably dead before entering the water.

“His body has been sent to Dublin and the city’s coroner will deal with the matter as his death took place in Ireland.”