THE killer who dumped the body of John McManus in a remote area near Ballyduff last week may have travelled to Kerry with the young man's remains in the boot of a car for several days.

Gardaí believe the killer may have kept Mr McManus's remains hidden in the boot of their car for a number of days prior to the gruesome discovery of the body in a remote part of Ballyduff on Thursday.

An initial examination of his remains showed Mr McManus died after suffering repeated blows to his body, including numerous injuries to the head.

The net is now closing on the man gardaí believe bludgeoned the 25-year-old Fermoy native to death.

John McManus had been reported missing in Cork and last Thursday's discovery brought heartbreaking closure to the family of Mr McManus. Last seen in the Mayfield area of Cork city on Thursday, October 30, Mr McManus's family began to fear for his life after gardaí found traces of blood during a search of his flat later that week.

His body was discovered in north Kerry after a local garda stopped a car in the Ballyduff area on Thursday afternoon. That car was seized because it had no tax or insurance and the driver and a female passenger were left to make their own way.

But gardaí

were stunned when they carried out a routine check of the car at the garda station. When they opened the boot, they were met by a stench and discovered traces of blood and human hair.

They immediately returned to the area where the car had been seized and discovered Mr McManus's body in an open area a short distance from the roadside. The body was found lying hidden by rushes in the coastal mudflats of the Cashen - only yards from where the car had been stopped.

Analysis of the blood and other samples taken from the car and the area is currently being carried out at the Garda State Laboratory. If forensic analysis furthers the gardaí's inquiries, it is expected the main suspect will be charged and brought before a court.

The main suspect is a man who has an alcohol and drug problem and who has received treatment for his addiction.

- DONAL NOLAN dnolan@kerryman.ie