A section of the Irish Town community in St Andrew was on Monday cordoned off as lawmen began their investigation into the cause of death of a man whose decomposing body was found tied to the root of a tree.

Police said the body was identified by relatives as that of 53-year-old Martel Pierce of the community.

Reports reaching THE STAR are that residents summoned the police after they discovered the body in bushes in the community.

Lawmen, who responded, closely inspected the body and found that the neck was tied with a telephone cord. It was subsequently removed to the morgue for post-mortem, the police said.

Investigations continue.