'68 air crash remains on new DNA database

Hopes list will finally end pain for families still looking for loved ones

- JOHN HAND

THE body of a man who is believed to have died in a 1968 Aer Lingus plane crash tragedy is one of 44 who feature on a new database.

The archive has been published with details of unidentified remains.

The Department of Justice, which collated the list drawn up from the records of coroners around Ireland, hopes it can end the pain of families who are still looking for loved ones.

The cases stretch back to the late 1960s up until last year and include distinctive details on the clothing which was found with remains along with tattoos and dental work.

Genetic profiles for 28 of the sets of remains are already on the National DNA Database.

The department now intends to carry out exhumations where possible to obtain samples from the other 16 unidentified remains with the intention of also uploading the details to the DNA database.