The body of a man has been found in the canal at Baggot Street Bridge.

The grim discovery was made just before lunchtime today by the Garda Sub-Aqua Team.

Garda divers were trawling the canal since early this morning, and just before 1pm they found the remains of a man in the water.

Ambulance crews and the fire service assisted in removing the body from the canal while a large area around Baggot St. Bridge was sealed off by Gardai, to allow for initial forensic tests on the body, at the scene.

The Grand Canal has been the focus of intensive searches in recent weeks, following the disappearance of a young Corkman missing after a party here in the city last month.

It’s too soon to say whether this find is linked to that investigation – the remains will be removed to the city morgue later today where a post mortem will be carried out.