Gardaí in west Cork made a chilling discovery when a young couple clearing scrubland at their rented home on the Beara Peninsula found a skull in a plastic bag that may have been there for over two decades. The tenants had noticed the bag while clearing trees in February but only uncovered the skull last Friday. Authorities believe the skull likely belonged to a young person, possibly a teenager or a small individual, and may be that of a female due to its characteristics.

The skull, found in a Supervalu plastic bag from a nearby store, has been sent to the forensic science laboratory in Dublin for analysis in an effort to determine its age and potential identification through DNA samples. While the skull shows no signs of trauma, including fractures, the absence of teeth complicates efforts to match it with dental records.

Gardaí are exploring various possibilities regarding the origin of the skull, considering scenarios ranging from foul play to accidental disposal or even the skull being a historic item left behind by a previous tenant. The plastic bag’s polymer analysis may provide clues to its age, which could shed light on how the skull ended up in the remote scrubland.

With the scene preserved for further investigation pending results from forensic experts, gardaí are maintaining an open-minded approach to unraveling the mystery surrounding the skull’s presence and are cautious not to jump to conclusions before all avenues are explored.