Human remains found in a field have been confirmed as that of missing woman Julie Buckley – last seen alive eight months ago.

Karl Hutchings, 48, pleaded guilty at Cambridge Crown Court last week to the murder of Ms Buckley, but at the time of his plea, her body had yet to be found.

Police launched a “no body” murder investigation back in February after finding blood at her home in Christchurch, near Wisbech – and on Wednesday, police confirmed that remains found in Wimblington, Cambridgeshire, were in fact those of the 55-year-old.

It came after Hutchings’ defence team gave information to police about a potential burial site in the area.

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Detective Chief Inspector Richard Stott of Cambridgeshire Police, said: “Julie’s family have been made aware of the post-mortem results, which were inconclusive on the cause of death, and are being supported by specially trained officers.

“Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time.”

Police believe Hutchings killed Ms Buckley on 30 January this year, then used her bank cards and sold possessions.

Officers from three forces had worked together to try to find her after she went missing, but eventually declared the case a ‘no body’ murder investigation.

Hutchings is next due in court on 24 October.

The energy regulator has signalled a further possible delay in a long-awaited decision on the future of new data centres.

Restrictions on the connection of data centres to the electricity grid have effectively acted as a moratorium on new development since 2021.

They were introduced because of the enormous strain data centres were placing on electricity supply in the key areas they sought to locate.

A new policy setting out where and how the centres can be set up was thought to be imminent.

However, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) was due to tell the Oireachtas Committee on Climate, Environment and Energy on Wednesday that the date was subject to change.

“The CRU originally indicated an intention to take a final decision in Q3/Q4 of this year,” it said in a statement prepared for the meeting.

“Given the significant number of responses and the balance of priorities facing the decision, the anticipated publication date is therefore subject to fully addressing the complexity of the detailed submissions received.”

Data centres have become a hugely controversial issue as they already use more than 20 per cent of all electricity generated in Ireland and their demand is forecast to grow significantly.

Energy experts have expressed concern that all new renewable energy generated in recent years has been used up by data centre expansion rather than in replacing existing fossil fuel use.

Climate experts are alarmed that a draft new policy published by the CRU earlier this year proposed allowing new data centres so long as they generated their own electricity.

Critics of that proposal said it would likely mean data centres installing on-site gas generators – a backward step in the aim to decarbonise industry.

In its statement, the CRU acknowledged there were competing interests.

“The aim of the proposed decision is to provide a pathway … which addresses risks in relation to security of supply and network constraints while minimising, where possible, potential negative impacts on national renewable energy targets and carbon emissions,” it said.

Separately, the CRU also highlighted the growing problem of gas and electricity bills arrears.

“The CRU’s published data has shown that arrears levels are trending at historically high levels, both in terms of the value of overall arrears and the average value of a customer’s account in arrears,” it said.

Protections for customers in arrears, it said, would be maintained and the winter disconnection moratorium would stay in place.

However, it said this policy did not necessarily solve the underlying problem.

“The data has shown that longer disconnection moratoria, in addition to longer repayment periods, does not benefit customers as customer debt levels can continue to increase should payments not be made.”

Kate O’Connor is back in Ireland following her historic silver medal at the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo.

O’Connor was greeted by family and friends as she arrived in Dublin Airport.

The 24-year-old had initially planned to stay in Japan for another few weeks, but decided to cut her trip short to return home and recover from a knee injury she sustained while competing in the long jump.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, she said returning home was a precaution to make sure she is fit to compete next year.

“I’ve got the next six weeks off and we just thought it was the best move for next year, just to get home, get it scanned and just make sure that everything’s okay rather than running around the place on God knows what.

“So, I think it’s okay, I’m walking and I’m fine, but it’s just more of a medical kind of thing, just to make sure everything’s okay,” she said.

The Dundalk athlete said it was great to get a big welcome home after her success in Tokyo.

“When you’re so far away, you’re kind of in your own little bubble. It’s nice to come back and see how much it means to everybody else at home as well,” she said.

Despite picking up a knee injury in the long jump event, Ms O’Connor said she wanted to give everything to make sure she medalled.

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“The days leading up to the competition, I could kind of see like a little bit of hype online and stuff, and I suppose I’ve never really dealt with too much pressure going into a major competition, but I was definitely feeling a little bit going in.

“Friday, I just enjoyed every second of the competition. I had already won three international medals this year, so I’ve already had an amazing year and so my plan was just go in and just enjoy every second, which I did,” Ms O’Connor said.

She added: “And then day two, I was sitting in second place before the long jump, and then I dropped into fourth afterwards.

“So again, I was feeling a little bit of pressure, but I knew I was coming into two very strong events for me.

“I was carrying that knee injury at that point, but there was no doubt in my mind that I wasn’t going to give my absolute 100%.

“Because these medals don’t come around all that often, and I suppose you never know when you’re going to get the opportunity again to win one and I was just never going to let that opportunity pass.”

Ms O’Connor is the first Irish women to win a medal at a major championship in a multi-discipline event.

She is the sixth World medallist for Ireland, following Eamonn Coghlan (gold, 1500m, 1983), Sonia O’Sullivan (gold, 5000m, 1995 and silver, 1500m, 1993), Gillian O’Sullivan (silver, 20km walk, 2003), Olive Loughnane (silver, 20km walk, 2009) and Rob Heffernan (gold, 50km walk, 2013).