The body of an unidentified person found at a canal in Co Kildare yesterday has been removed from the scene.

The dismembered body was found in a container by youths walking along the Grand Canal waterway in Ardclough Village yesterday at around 3.30pm.

The gender and age group of the deceased has yet to be established.

Garda forensic teams are carrying out underwater searches and the Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis has carried out an examination.

Conor Feehan is Chief Reporter with The Herald. He says "it does seem to be the torso of a person. Gardaí cannot confirm whether this person is a man or a woman, or what age, race or nationality this person is".  

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the discovery.