"He was a loving, family man, a genuine guy. He never did anything in his life to deserve that, certainly not to be buried in woods."

These are the heartbreaking words of the daughter of murdered Tommy Thompson.

Mr Thompson's body was discovered in a shallow grave in Ireland several months after he was reported missing.

His family are now desperate to bring his body home, and say goodbye.

The family are also desperately seeking justice for their father, saying whoever was responsible for his murder "has ruined so many people's lives".

As reported, the Gardai confirmed the human remains found in County Laois were those of Mr Thompson, a builder, aged 59, who disappeared in April last year.

He had been working in Ireland for eight years, but visited his family in Riccall regularly and stayed in constant phone contact.

After a fortnight together over Easter, all phone contact ended six days after his return to Ireland.

Sandra, 50, said they were "devastated" by the grim discovery.

"For nine months we just wanted to find him. Now we want justice," she said.

Vicky, 19, said: "It is the sort of thing you see on TV. It just doesn't happen to you."

Gardai officers say the cause of death is not being released and they still want to find Mr Thompson's blue Renault van.

A man in his 30s was arrested after the body was found. He was released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In December, two men were arrested in connection with Mr Thompson's disappearance after police found items missing from his house on their land. They were not linked to his death at the time.

Jane, 27, said: "I feel so much anger and hate towards who did this. They have ruined so many lives. They have taken him away from his family. I hope they rot in hell.

"I don't think we will ever find out the whole truth about what happened. I feel frustrated because they are out there and know what they have done, and ruined so many lives.

"My dad didn't deserve that. He was a loving, family man, a genuine guy. He never did anything in his life to deserve that, certainly not to be buried in woods.

"I never got a chance to say goodbye. I used to go to bed every night thinking where are you dad?' I must have called his phone every day just to hear his voice. We have found him now and just want to bring him back home."

A second post-mortem examination is to be carried out. Then the family hope to fly his body home.

A forensic team spent a week in Mr Thompson's house following his disappearance.

When his family was allowed in, they said it looked as though someone had tried to make it appear as if he had left, taking items such as his clothes and pictures.

Jane said: "It was made to look like he had done a runner."

However, his treasured darts had been left. Sandra explained: "He had these darts for over 40 years. There's no way he would have gone without them. They have been all over the world."

Jane added: "We knew our dad. We just knew he wouldn't do a runner. He was a real family man.

"He will be remembered as a loving, generous, protective father and husband with a dry sense of humour and an ability to quickly make friends in a roomful of strangers."