Update:
Friday, November 17th – The search for a young man last seen in Co Clare has been stood down after a body discovered on the smallest of the Aran Islands was formally identified.
Gardaí had sought the public’s assistance in tracing the 23-year-old University of Limerick student Robert Funke whereabouts. Robert had been last seen on Sunday 5th November 2023 in the Dromroe Village area of Castletroy in Limerick city. Searches had been carried out in the Limerick area for him.
It was later established however that Robert was seen in Co Clare. Gardaí mounted an initial search and were joined by the Doolin and Kilkee units of the Irish Coast Guard, the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter and Clare Civil Defence.
On Monday, human remains were discovered washed up on the shoreline on Inis Oírr. The body was recovered by members of the Inis Oírr unit of the Irish Coast Guard, which is managed by Doolin Coast Guard.
The body was taken to the mainland at Rossaveal by the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat. From there, the remains were taken to University Hospital Galway where a post-mortem examination was carried out.
The search for the missing man has now been stood down after the remains found on Monday were confirmed to be his.
A Garda spokesperson confirmed: “Following the discovery of a body on Monday 13th November 2023 on Inis Oírr, Co. Galway, the missing person appeal for Robert Funke has been stood down.
No further media action is required and no further information is available at this time. An Garda Síochána would like to thank the media and the public for their assistance.”
Monday, November 13th- Human remains have been discovered washed up on one of the Aran Islands.
The discovery was made at around 2.00pm today by volunteers from the Inis Oírr unit of the Irish Coast Guard. The land-based team is managed by the Doolin unit of the volunteer service.
The body was located on the shoreline on the southwestern side of the smallest of the Aran Islands. Gardaí were notified before the remains were transported to Inis Oírr pier.
From there, the body was taken by the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat to Rossaveal and onward from there to the mortuary at University Hospital Galway where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
The identity or gender of the deceased has not yet been established and it’s expected that Gardaí will be depending on DNA analysis to confirm an identification.
While there’s no indication of who the person might be, searches had been ongoing in North Clare for a student missing from Limerick while a woman is also reported to be missing from Galway.
