The skeletal remains of a man found tied up in a sleeping bag in Ireland could belong to a person who had links to Kent.

Detectives are appealing for information to help identify the body discovered buried in a shallow grave in Galway in 2002.

On April 17 of that year Irish police received a call from a man who had been working in the garden of a house and whilst digging, had uncovered the remains.

They were found in a sleeping bag, which was bound with a blue nylon rope.

The property they were found at was unoccupied and over the years had been used by a number of squatters.

The post mortem revealed there had been blunt force trauma to the skull and the remains had been there for around 2 years.

A full investigation was launched by police, but the body has never been formally identified.

With the sleeping bag, police also found several hair ties, four rings of varying styles and a pair of North Ridge men’s boots.

Police have established that a man using the name ‘Dave’ squatted at the property during 1998 and 1999.

Witnesses who knew him suggested some of the items found were similar to those belonging to Dave.

Police believe he came from England and may have had ties to Tunbridge Wells and Cornwall.

It is thought he travelled to Ireland in 1997 or 1998.

Dave used a number of different names, including ‘Tang’ and surnames of ‘Rawson’, ‘Walton’ and ‘Watson’.

He was known to frequently busk in Galway and was often accompanied by his dog.

The case appeared on BBC's Crimewatch programme on Monday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Garda Police on 00 353 91514720 or e-mail Salthill.DistrictOffice@garda.ie