The grim discovery was made this afternoon by a landowner
GARDAI are investigating the discovery of human remains in a slurry pit north of Cork city.
UPDATE 21.38:
Gardai have issued a statement about the discovery this evening:
Gardaí are investigating the discovery of a body of male in Whitechurch, Co. Cork on the 28th January 2016
The discovery was made on a farm in Rahaniskey shortly before 5pm this evening (28/1/2016). Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene.
His body has been removed to Cork University Hospital where a post-mortem examination along with the formal identification process is expected to take palce tomorrow morning. The coroner has been notified.
A Garda investigation into the death will be determined by the outcome of the post-mortem examination.
No further information is available at this time.
The grim discovery was made this afternoon by a landowner who was checking his property between Whitechurch and Carrignavar following recent storms and floods.
He immediately alerted gardai.
Officers immediately sealed off the scene to allow for a full forensic and technical examination.
The Office of the State Pathologist has also been notified.
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster is expected to conduct a preliminary examination at the scene before the remains are transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH) for a full post mortem examination.
However, the preliminary examination can only take place once the pit has been emptied and full safety controls are put in place.
Garda sources indicated that there is nothing at this stage to indicate foul play is involved in the discovery.
However, a garda source stressed that the nature of their investigation will be determined by the post mortem findings.
The garda priority will be identifying the individual with the process expected to involve cross-referencing those reported as missing in the Cork area over recent months.
One missing person search was focused since Christmas on the general Whitechurch-Carrignavar area.
The discovery of the human remains was made not far from where the mobile phone of a missing individual was located before Christmas.
It remains unclear at this stage whether the two discoveries are in any way linked.