Gardaí are poised to launch a murder investigation after the discovery of a young man’s body in undergrowth near a popular Cork riverside walkway.
Detectives believe the man, believed to be aged in his 20s, died in violent circumstances.
There were visible injuries to the man’s body.
One theory is that he may have been shot at close range after being lured to the remote area.
A post-mortem examination is being conducted on Friday morning at Cork University Hospital (CUH) by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.
Gardaí stressed that the results of that examination will determine the nature of their investigation.
However, the probe has already been allocated the resources of a murder inquiry.
The post-mortem examination will also assist gardaí with the identification of the young man.
It is feared the man died several days ago and his body may have lain undiscovered in the undergrowth until Thursday.
The unidentified male was discovered in the Ballyellis townland outside Mallow, Co Cork at 1.30pm on Thursday by people out walking the banks of the River Blackwater.
His body was discovered in undergrowth just a short distance off a pathway popular with walkers, dog owners and wildlife photographers.
The area involved is about 3km from Mallow town in north Cork and a short walk from the local golf club.
It is a popular area for walkers with the pathway tracing along the River Blackwater in the direction of Killavullen from Mallow.
Gardaí sealed off the area surrounding the body and a crime scene was declared.
The body remained at the scene for several hours until a preliminary inspection of the area by members of the Garda Technical Bureau and Dr Bolster.
The remains were then taken to CUH for a post mortem examination on Friday morning.
Technical officers continued to comb the area for clues as to the circumstances of the man’s death.
Garda Underwater Unit members have also conducted searches of the bed of the nearby River Blackwater amid fears items may have been disposed of into the water.
An incident room has been established at Mallow Garda Station.
Gardaí will launch a full appeal for information from the public once the post mortem examination is concluded.
Officers have also commenced harvesting CCTV security camera footage from homes and businesses in the area.