Identity and motive established in case of body found in Grand Canal

The body of a man found dismembered in the Grand Canal over the weekend has been identified as 33-year-old Irish man Kenneth O' Brien. 

Kenneth was a mechanic and JCB driver and had no known connection with crime or criminal networks. 

Father to a little boy, the Dubliner had just returned from a period working in Australia in December. 

Kenneth was last seen on Friday evening heading out for work and his body was found in Grand Canal the following day. DNA results identified his body yesterday afternoon. 

Investigators believe that Kenneth may have fallen victim to "someone with a grudge to bear" and are looking at suspects with a history of violent crime. 

"It is rarely that we come across such savagery and we will be looking at people known to us with a history of violence as we sift through possible suspects for this awful crime," said a police investigator to the Irish Independent. 

The family based in Clondalkin have been described as respectable and hardworking.