Man drowned in Stratford six years ago finally identified

Police have identified a body found drowned in the River Lea six years ago.

Following a lengthy investigation by Newham’s Missing Person Unit, officers have identified a man who died in Stratford as being Kevin Holehan.

Mr Holehan’s body was discovered by a member of the public in the river, near the High Street at the junction with Abbey Lane, back in 2009. He was 48 at the time.

A post-mortem held in December 2009 gave the cause of death as drowning. It was initially treated as unexplained but following further enquiries was deemed non-suspicious.

During the course of the investigation, an artist’s impression of the man was created and a photograph of a t-shirt Mr Holehan was wearing was released as part of further efforts to establish his identity.

In February 2013, as a direct result of appeals in the media, officers received a break-through after another police officer contacted the unit with information regarding a man who had been reported missing from Borough Road, Southwark.

DNA tests later confirmed this was indeed Mr Holehan.

Det Sgt Gerard Healy said: “My officers have worked tirelessly to trace this man’s identity via numerous media appeals, and by exhaustive lines of enquiry, some international, which have extended as far as Australia.

“I am really pleased that we have been able to identify this man and give his family closure and the funeral Mr Holehan deserves.”