Human remains found in car in lough during search for man missing since 2002

The Mitsubishi vehicle has been confirmed as belonging to Micheal ‘Tony’ Lynch who went missing from his home in Co Cavan 18 years ago.

Police divers recovered the car on Monday and have today (Thursday) said that remains have been found inside.

A PSNI spokesman said: “Police can confirm that human remains have been found following the recovery of a car from Lough Erne in the Corradillar area of Fermanagh on Monday, 18 May.

“The vehicle was located underwater by police divers and recovered for examination and is believed to be the Mitsubishi belonging to Michael ‘Tony’ Lynch who went missing from his home in Clones, Co Monaghan 18 years ago. We are liaising with colleagues from An Garda Síochána, who are investigating Mr Lynch’s disappearance.”

Michael ‘Tony’ Lynch, 55, was originally from Magheraveely in Co Fermanagh but living in Clones, Co Monaghan when he was reported missing in 2002.

Police in the Republic or Ireland had carried out a number of searches in lakes south of the border in recent years but were directed to Corradillar after members of the public spotted an anomaly in the water in recent days.

The alarm was originally raised in January 2002 when Mr Lynch failed to turn up for his work as a digger driver for a drainage company.

Police said his wife Angela had visited his flat to find that all of his belonging were still there but there was no sign of her husband.

A Garda spokesman said: “We continue to liaise with colleagues in the PSNI, who are investigating the discovery of Mr Lynch’s car.”