3791UMIRL - Unidentified Male

Photo of the Victim

Date of Discovery: April 17, 2002
Location of Discovery: 158 Upper Salthill, Galway, Co. Galway, Ireland
Estimated Date of Death: Early 1999
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Natural cause

Physical Description

Estimated Age: Unknown
Race: White
Sex: Male
Height: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Hair Color: Light brown
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Busker who played guitar and tin whistle. Always with his border collie breed dog and his notebook. Goes by the names "Dave", "Tang", "Dave Rawson". English accent.

Identifiers

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unavailable.
DNA: Available

Clothing & Personal Items

Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Blue sleeping back, hair ties

Circumstances of Discovery

On 17th April 2002, a property developer was clearing the garden of a house at 158 Upper Salthill, Galway in Ireland when he found a human skull. Gardaí subsequently found skeletal remains in a shallow grave nearby. They were wrapped in a blue sleeping bag tied with blue nylon twine, including clothing, jewellery, boots, and hair ties.

The post-mortem did not show any signs of assault, and it was concluded the male died of natural causes. The house had previously been used as a squat by homeless people. Gardai believe he may have been buried by his friends, not thinking it was illegal to bury someone in unconsecrated ground. Gardaí believe that the body may belong to a man known as Dave. The well-known busker used to frequent Shop Street, Galway city since arriving in the area about August 1998. He lived as a New Age Traveller and played the tin whistle or guitar.

Dave had an English accent and is believed to have originated from the Tunbridge Well area of Kent. He may have trained as a classical musician in London and may also have a sister in Exeter. Friends told Gardai that he had been married at some point.

When he purchased a dog license for his collie dog, he named it ‘Dave Rawson’, but it has never been corroborated. He sometimes went by the nickname ‘Tang’. The last time he was seen was in 1999, and his collie, guitar, and tin whistle have not been found.

He carried a small notebook everywhere containing addresses and phone numbers, but that was not found with the body. His remains are resting in Bothair Mor Graveyard, Galway.

Investigating Agency(s)

Agency Name: Salthill Garda Station
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: +353 91 514720
Agency E-Mail: Contact form
Agency Case Number: N/A

Agency Name: Missing Persons Unit
Agency Contact Person: Sergeant Carmel Griffin
Agency Phone Number: +353 1 666 9476
Agency E-Mail: missing_persons@garda.ie 
Agency Case Number: N/A

NCIC Case Number: N/A
NamUs Case Number: N/A
Former Hot Case Number: N/A

Information Source(s)

Locate Missing People
Gov.ie - Unidentified human remains

Admin Notes

Added: 2/12/22; Last Updated: 5/21/23