Edinburgh body find police call for help from Irish travelling community

From HeraldScotland

A widespread Police Scotland appeal came after the grim discovery of the victim's remains in the Edinburgh beauty spot by a passer-by and distinctive jewellery that pointed towards her identity being possibly connected to Irish Travellers.

Police officers have now contacted Irish travelling community members in Ireland, England and Wales as well as north of the Border.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "We have made contact with representatives of travelling communities right across Britain and further afield and, while we have been grateful for their help and advice, we have yet to identify the woman."

Police believe the dismembered woman had been buried within the past six months.

Officers have been working with a geographical profiler and now believe that, because of the way the body was hidden, it may have taken hours to dispose of the body.

The person or people who tried to conceal the body of the woman – believed to be aged between 30 and 60 and thought to be petite and blonde – had to hack through tree roots and dig in compact earth to make her grave.

It is thought the victim was dismembered at the murder scene so the killer could transport the remains to the hillside.

She was white and had extensive work done to her teeth, including veneers and implants.

Images of four rings that it is hoped will still be key in naming the victim were earlier shown by Detective Chief Inspector Keith Hardie, leading the investigation,

He said police have still to receive the "gateway" call to identify the victim."

The discovery at the Corstorphine Hill nature reserve, within 100 yards of a popular walkers' route, has led to an investigation involving about 50 officers.

The UK National Missing Persons Unit, which has more than 5000 people on its database, has been scrutinised by the Edinburgh officers.

Now Police Scotland has ruled out six of the nine missing people on its list from this database and there is "ongoing work with other forces to eliminate the remaining three", the new national force said.

The Irish Travellers Movement in Britain, which lists members at sites across the country, was unavailabe for comment yesterday.

Police believe it is possible part of the heart-shaped ring is missing, since claddagh rings also tend to feature a crown design, or something similar.

While all the rings are distinctive, none is believed to be particularly valuable.

Officers also stressed that, while one of the rings might have the link to the travelling community, they are keeping an open mind about the identity of the victim.

Mr Hardie said earlier that his team had calls from people as far way as Buckinghamshire in England, expressing concern for relatives.

Initially six names have been provided to the force as possible identities for the woman on Corstorphine Hill but all have been traced and are safe and well.