HUMAN remains thought to be those of a missing Irish man were exhumed at Menai Bridge cemetery today (Tuesday)

Police and forensic experts are hoping the latest advances in DNA technology will help identify the mystery of the man who washed up on an Anglesey shore over 30 years ago.

The Menai Bridge Cemetery was closed at 9am, for about four hours, for the exhumation of the man who is believed to be a 63-year-old Irish citizen, Joseph Brendon Dowley.

During the process, a Catholic Priest from Holyhead, Father Frank Murray also gave graveside blessing.

Mr Dowley, originally disappeared in October, 1985. A month later, an airman from RAF Valley, who had been running on the beach at Rhosneigr, discovered the body of a man who appeared to have been brought ashore on the tide.

Mr Dowley, who had been living in London, was last seen when he was driven to a ferry terminal by a relative after he had been visiting family in Ireland.

Although it will be about four weeks before the identity can formally be confirmed, police believe the remains are "highly likely" to be those of Mr Dowley.

DC Don Kenyon leading the enquiry said: "Although we don't know for sure at this point, we have looked at dental records and we know there were scars which both match up with Mr Dowley's medical records.

"It is highly likely it is him. His family have been informed and are fully up to speed with what is going on.

"The latest advances in DNA technology, which were not available when Mr Dowley was found on November 9, 1985, mean that we should eventually be able to say whether it is him or not. His family in Ireland have given DNA us samples so we are able to compare them."

At the time of Mr Dowley's disappearance a police investigation to identify him proved fruitless and a subsequent Coronial Inquest returned an ‘open verdict’.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

The investigation is part of Operation Orchid where detectives from North Wales Police have been using the latest DNA technology to help identify 18 cases of human remains discovered in the region over the last five decades.

DC Kenyon added: “With the work being done under Operation Orchid We hope to be able to help bring some closure to families who have lived with uncertainty for such a long time. We want families to know their relatives are not forgotten."

"Criminality is not suspected in any of the cases and the focus of the operation is simply to identify, reunite and allow the dignity of a funeral service for family and friends to pay their respects.”

"If the identity is confirmed by HM Coroner we hope to reunite Mr Dowley with his family as soon as possible to grant them the dignity and comfort of a full funeral service."