Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6538Murder (suspected) · Co. Dublin

Gardaí dig Dublin park for remains of missing Icelandic man

Gardaí suspect Jon Jonsson, a 41-year-old Icelandic man, was killed on 9 February 2019, the day he was last seen alive in Whitehall, Dublin, around 11am, after a meeting he had organised went wrong. Gardaí believe his body was dumped in Santry Demesne Regional Park in Dublin 9, north Dublin, after two anonymous letters said his remains were there. No arrest or charge has been reported, and he has not been located. On 15 February 2024, specialist gardaí were due to begin digging in the park after cadaver dogs indicated a possible burial spot near the lake.

  1. Reported13 Feb
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
Other details
  • Jon Jonsson, a 41-year-old Icelandic man, is missing, and the case is still classed as a missing person's inquiry.
  • Officers believe he had lost thousands of euros playing poker in Dublin and was meeting someone to get access to more cash.
When
Jon Jonsson was last seen alive on 9 February 2019, around 11am.
Where
  • He was last seen in Whitehall, Dublin.
  • Gardaí believe his body was dumped in Santry Demesne Regional Park, Dublin 9, north Dublin.
What happened
Gardaí suspect Jon Jonsson was killed on the day he vanished.
Cause
Gardaí suspect his killing followed a meeting he had organised that went wrong and may have become violent.
Investigation
  • Gardaí decided to search the park after two anonymous letters said his remains were there.
  • More than 270 lines of enquiry have been pursued, and the search focuses on a wooded area and a deep lake in the park.
  • Gardaí from Ballymun called in specialist units, including Garda Water Unit divers and dog handlers.
  • Cadaver dogs indicated something might be buried at a wooded spot close to the lake; sources said the dogs could also have detected blood.
  • The site was preserved overnight, and Garda Technical Bureau officers were due to start digging on 15 February 2024.
Charges
No arrest or charge is mentioned in the reports.
31 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGardaí suspect Jon Jonsson was killed on the day he vanished. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereHe was last seen in Whitehall, Dublin, around 11am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHis body is believed to have been dumped in a park in Santry, north Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHis body was allegedly dumped in a park in Santry, north Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe search focuses on two areas of the park, also known as Santry Demesne. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe search is taking place in Santry Demesne Regional Park in Dublin 9. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenJon Jonsson was last seen alive on 9 February 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenJonsson was last seen in Whitehall around 11am on 9 February 2019. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenJon Jonsson vanished in February 2019. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeGardaí suspect the meeting became violent and Jon Jonsson was killed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeSuspected killing followed a meeting that went wrong. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeOfficers suspect Jon Jonsson was killed on the day he vanished. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeOfficers believe the killing followed a meeting Jon Jonsson had organised that went wrong. (dublinlive.ie)
  • causeGardaí fear the meeting erupted into violence and Jon Jonsson was killed. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí decided to search for his body after receiving two anonymous letters saying his remains were in the park. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search began and was set to continue into the following day. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search focuses on a heavily wooded area and a deep lake in the park. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda Water Unit's divers are scouting the lake for signs of his remains. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMore than 270 lines of enquiry have been pursued in the investigation. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí decided to search the park after receiving two anonymous letters saying his remains were there. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe search began on the day the article was published and was due to continue the next day. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí from Ballymun called in specialist units, including divers and dog handlers. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationSpecialist gardaí were expected to start digging in the park for the remains of a missing man. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationCadaver dogs indicated something might be buried at a wooded spot close to the lake. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe site was preserved overnight and Garda Technical Bureau officers were to start digging. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherJon Jonsson was 41 years old. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOfficers believe he had lost thousands of euros playing poker in Dublin before his disappearance. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOfficers believe he was meeting someone to get access to more cash. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe case is still classed as a missing person's inquiry. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí say Jonsson has not been located. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherOfficers believe Jon Jonsson had lost thousands of euros playing poker in Dublin before he disappeared. (dublinlive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Feb2024
    Reporteddublinlive.ie, first report
    Specialist garda begin to dig Dublin park for remains of missing man

    Search for remains of Jon Jonsson in Santry Demesne after cadaver dogs indicated a possible burial spot. Gardaí suspect he was killed on the day he vanished in February 2019 after a meeting over money went wrong; no arrests are mentioned.

    victim, Jon Jonsson, 41, male, Icelandic, non-irishJon Jonsson
  2. 13 Feb2024
    Otherdublinlive.ie, first report
    Gardai fear missing man was killed before being dumped in Dublin park

    Reports that gardaí suspect Jon Jonsson was killed and his body dumped in Santry Demesne, and that a search for his remains has started. Also gives details of the poker losses, the anonymous letters and the search units involved.

    victim, Jon Jonsson, 41, male, Icelandic, non-irishJon Jonsson
  3. 13 Feb2024
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai fear missing Icelandic tourist was killed and dumped in Dublin park

    Reports that gardaí suspect Jon Jonsson was killed after a meeting went wrong, that a search of Santry Demesne has started following two anonymous letters, and that the case remains a missing persons inquiry.

    victim, Jon Jonsson, 41, male, Icelandic, non-irishJon Jonsson