The remains of the poet who died in 1939 were believed to have been flown home from France almost ten years after his death.

But the Irish Times has reported on Saturday that the man responsible for locating Yeats remains believed the job was impossible and it's not known what was sent home in his place.

The paper also claims the coffin was never inspected when it arrived in Sligo.

Yeats' granddaughter won't comment on reports but a statement from his children in 1988 expressed confidence in the French official who witnessed the removal of the bones.