November 20, 2011 8.00 am This story is over 148 months old

Family of man found dead in a river in Ireland traced to Lincoln

Murder inquiry: Lincoln relatives identify body of man killed in “frenzied attack” and dumped in a river in Ireland, as part of a double murder investigation.
John Forrester’s body was was dumped in a river bound with electric cable at the hands and feet and wrapped in a rug in a bid to weigh it down. Photo: TV3 Ireland

Family members of a 42-year-old man found dead in a river in Ireland have been traced to Lincoln. John Forrester’s body was recovered from River Bandon in Cork on November 15, 36 hours after the body of another man was found in the same river.

Forrester’s Lincoln relatives reportedly confirmed the recovered remains. Irish police are still investigating the “frenzied attack” in which the man suffered serious stab wounds to his face and neck.

The body of the 42-year-old was bound with electric cable at the hands and feet and investigators believe the unemployed man was attacked in his flat in Bandon before being thrown over railings into the river. He was wrapped in a rug in a bid to weigh his body down.

Forrester had been living in the town for the past two years. He was missing for two days when his remains were found and was last seen alive on November 12.

He reportedly suffered from a serious alcohol problem and lived a transient lifestyle for almost 20 years, which made tracing his family difficult for investigators.

On November 13, the body of 27-year-old Jonathan Duke from Bandon was found under a bridge over River Bandon after it had become trapped on wooden debris.

It is believed Duke died in the evening of November 13. The investigations into the deaths of Forrester and Duke have been linked by Irish police.

A male and female aged in their 30’s have since been charged with Duke’s murder and are due to appear in court on November 21.

Source: Irish National Police | Related Reports: Irish Independent, Irish Examiner, Irish Times