Gardaí say they have made a significant breakthrough in their investigation into a discovery of unidentified human remains in Co Westmeath.
RTÉ has learned that advances in forensic science now strongly suggest the remains are those of 43-year-old Brian McGrath who disappeared in 1987, six years before the remains were discovered.
The case is being treated as a murder investigation.
This morning gardaí exhumed the body at a cemetery in Coole and tests are now being carried out at Dublin City Morgue in Marino.
It is understood specialist equipment has been brought in to search the soil.
Gardaí have also sealed off a section of land in Coole where the man's body was discovered.
In November 1993 gardaí, who were acting on confidential information, began a search of land in the Coole area and found the remains buried in a field.
Detectives believe the body had been set alight before it was secretly buried.
Following the discovery a file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions. No prosecution was taken.
Forensic scientists at the time were unable to determine the exact identity of the body and the case could not be progressed.
In recent months a review of the case was carried out by detectives from the garda cold case unit who enlisted the help of a leading forensic science laboratory in England.
This has led officers to strongly believe the unidentified body is that of Mr McGrath.
