Sunday 1 November 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. 21486Unknown (unidentified human remains) · Co. Galway

Gardaí still seeking to identify man whose remains were found in Salthill in 2002

On 17 April 2002, a property developer discovered the skull of an unidentified man wrapped in a sleeping bag and buried at a derelict house in Upper Salthill, Galway. Gardaí later found the man's body in a shallow grave nearby. The man, known in Galway as 'Dave the Busker' or 'Tang', had arrived around 1998, was last seen in the city in 1999, and claimed to be from Kent. No arrest or charge has been reported, and on 16 April 2023, the 21st anniversary of the discovery, gardaí still had not identified him and were appealing for information through the Garda Confidential Line.

  1. Reported16 Apr
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The remains are those of an unidentified man.
Where
The remains were found at a derelict property in Upper Salthill, Galway.
When
A property developer discovered the skull on 17 April 2002.
Investigation
  • Gardaí later found the man's body in a shallow grave nearby.
  • Gardaí believe he may have been married and may have come from the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent.
  • As of 16 April 2023, he remained unidentified, and gardaí were still trying to identify him and contact his family; anyone with information can contact gardaí in confidence on the Garda Confidential Line.
Other details
  • The skull was wrapped in a sleeping bag with a nylon rope, and the bag also contained clothing, hair ties, boots and jewellery.
  • The man had arrived in Galway around 1998 and had not been seen in the city since 1999.
  • He was known in Galway as 'Dave the Busker' or 'Tang'; he spoke with a pronounced English accent and claimed to be from Kent.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe remains were found at a derelict property in Upper Salthill, Galway. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whenThe skull of a man was discovered on 17 April 2002. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí later found the man's body in a shallow grave nearby. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe the man may have been married and may have originated from the Tunbridge Wells area of Kent. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationAnyone with information can contact gardaí in confidence on the Garda Confidential Line. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe skull was wrapped in a sleeping bag with a nylon rope and buried at the derelict house. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe sleeping bag also contained clothing, hair ties, boots and jewellery. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe man had arrived in Galway around 1998 and had not been seen in the city since 1999. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe man was known in Galway as 'Dave the Busker' or 'Tang'. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe man spoke with a pronounced English accent and claimed to be from Kent. (galwaybeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Apr2023
    Reportedgalwaybeo.ie, first report
    Galway gardai issue update as photo shows man discovered ‘buried inside bag’

    Article marks the 21st anniversary of the discovery and gives an update on the unresolved investigation into the unidentified man, including details of his time in Galway and an appeal for information.

    victim, male