A DERRY teenager whose body was found in a burnt-out stolen car was "most likely still alive" when the vehicle caught fire, police said last night.
A PSNI spokesman confirmed yesterday that they had identified the body as that of Caoimhin Cassidy who had been missing since Friday.
Firefighters discovered the body of the 18-year-old in the passenger seat of a red Mazda car in the Galliagh estate in the early hours of Sunday.
The vehicle had earlier been stolen in the Rosemount area of the city.
Police said they had received reports that the car had struck a lamppost in the nearby Fairview Road at around 4am, had caught fire and travelled further into the estate before coming to a halt in Galliagh Park.
Shortly after the discovery police issued an appeal to help them identify the man's body.
The spokesman said yesterday: “Initially it was believed that the Mazda 6 car had caught fire as a result of the collision. However, the results from a post mortem examination tell us that Caoimhin was not seriously physically injured as a result of a crash and was, in fact, most likely still alive when the blaze started.
“Our inquiries to date have established that the Mazda, registration NHZ4594, was stolen from a house Oakfield Crescent area earlier that same night. The car is known to have crossed the border into Co onegal a number of times before it was reported on fire at Fairview Road at 4.15am (on Saturday).”
He said: “This was an appalling end to a young life and Caoimhin’s family and friends deserve to know how he died.”
From Creggan Heights Mr Cassidy was reported missing when he failed to come home on Friday night.
Mr Cassidy’s family also revealed the full horror of his death. In a social media post his great aunt, Ann O'Driscol said her grand-nephew had been “burnt alive”.
“So sad just confirmed it was my niece’s son was burnt alive in that car heartbroken RIP, my buddy Caoimhin always loved and never forgotten fly high precious angel," she said on Facebook.
She also hit out at those who posted critical messages on social media about the circumstances of her great-nephew’s death and called on people not to add to the "pain" of the family.
The teenager’s girlfriend, Raychel Smith McLaughlin said her worst nightmare had become a reality.
She said: “No words can describe how I feel at the minute.”
Independent councillor Gary Donnelly said Mr Cassidy’s death had shocked the Creggan community.
“Regardless of the circumstances of his death, this was a tragic and shocking waste of a young life,” he said.
SDLP councillor, Brian Tierney said he was liaising with Mr Cassidy’s family and would continue to offer whatever support he could.
