An inquest into the death of James O'Neill, a Belfast native whose remains were stored unidentified in a Dublin morgue for 13 months before his family was notified, has been adjourned for six months.

Dublin District Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane granted the adjournment on Wednesday following a request from a representative of Fiosrú, the Garda Ombudsman. The oversight body requested additional time as it continues its investigation into the actions of An Garda Síochána in the handling of the case.

The remains of Mr O'Neill, 43, were discovered in a wooded area of Phoenix Park in Dublin in November 2023. A backpack found nearby contained a curriculum vitae bearing his name and a Dublin address. Investigating gardaí initially discounted the document as false identification, and no public appeals or details regarding the discovery were circulated to the media at the time.

Mr O'Neill's family was not informed of his death until December 2024. His parents, Ann and Paul O'Neill, along with their solicitor Pádraig Ó Muirigh, observed Wednesday's proceedings via video link.

Dr Cullinane offered her condolences to the family during the hearing, acknowledging the significant stress they have experienced. The coroner set March 10 next as the date for the inquest's resumption.

The family previously retained independent pathologist Prof Jack Crane, former state pathologist for Northern Ireland, who raised several issues regarding the initial postmortem examination. Additionally, the O'Neill family wrote to Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan seeking assistance regarding their concerns over the processes that allowed their son's remains to lie unidentified for over a year.