MURDER victim Kenneth O'Brien was shot before his body was dismembered, gardaí have said.
The 33-year-old's torso was found wrapped in a suitcase and dumped in the Grand Canal at Ardclough in Co Kildare on January 16.
The official cause of death has yet to be determined but gardaí believe he was shot.
The Dubliner had recently returned to Ireland from working in Australia.
More human remains were found in the Grand Canal at Sallins in Co Kildare on Monday.
Officers have already recovered human limbs in bags as well as a component for a power tool which may have been used to dismember Mr O'Brien's body.
Gardaí are still awaiting the results of DNA tests to confirm the identity of the remains.
Officers believe an organised crime gang was responsible for Mr O'Brien's brutal murder.
The Garda Underwater Unit resumed searches yesterday on the Grand Canal at Sallins.
Officers have searched five crime scenes based on information supplied from the public.
They have appealed for further information about crime scenes at Ardclough and Sallins, as well as a third scene along the Grand Canal walkway near the Carton House estate in Maynooth.
Mr O'Brien's family have thanked the public for their help in the murder investigation.
