A search of lands in the Dundalk area by gardaí investigating the disappearance of Ciara Breen, who was last seen in 1997, has concluded for the day and will resume again tomorrow.
Ciara was 17 when she was last seen having left her home in the early hours of the morning of 13 February 1997.
An extensive garda investigation at the time failed to locate her.
Last year, two witnesses came forward with potential sightings of Ms Breen and gardaí also received two anonymous letters with information about the case.
The search was carried out in an area called Balmer's Bog, a marshland just off the Ardee Road in Dundalk, is the biggest to be undertaken in the investigation.
Members of the Louth Divisional team, the Garda Sub Aqua team and Garda forensic teams, with the assistance of missing persons experts, are combing the site using specialist equipment.
Members of the Garda Subaqua unit assist in the search at Balmers Bog for missing teenager Ciara Breen @rtenews pic.twitter.com/RcSTht2s8s
— Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) August 18, 2015
Gardai remove shrubbery from the search area at Balmers Bog in a search for missing teenager Ciara Breen @rtenews pic.twitter.com/TeWEa62JYe
— Samantha Libreri (@SamanthaLibreri) August 18, 2015
In April, a man in his 50s was arrested and later released without charge in connection with Ciara's disappearance.
A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Gardaí say they are acting on information they received following recent appeals for information.
It is expected the search will go on for a number of weeks and it is being concentrated in one particular part of the site.
Detective inspector Pat Marry, who is leading the investigation, thanked those who have come forward with information so far.
He appealed to anyone with further information about Ciara's disappearance to come forward and "do the right thing".
