A forensic examination is being carried out in a section of a public park in Dublin as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Icelandic man Jon Jonsson in the capital five years ago.
A section of woodland has been sealed off as a potential crime scene after specialists dogs picked up a scent at Santry Demense.
It is the third day of the garda search for Jon Jonsson who left the Bonnington Hotel on the Swords Road in Whitehall at around 11am on Saturday 9 February 2019.
The 41-year-old was last seen a short time later walking passed the entrance to Highfield Hospital and heading in the direction of the Collins Avenue junction.
Santry Demense is 3.5km north of that location and Mr Jonsson was walking in that direction when he went missing.
Gardaí at Ballymun are being supported by the underwater unit and specialist cadaver dogs that are trained to pick up the scent of decaying or decayed human remains
One dog picked up a scent at a particular spot in woodlands in the park yesterday afternoon. The dog was then removed and two more dogs independently and separately also picked up a scent at the same spot.
The Garda Technical Bureau was called in and forensic specialists commenced their examination of the scene this morning.
They are using ground penetrating imagery to survey the site for evidence of soil disturbance or possible human remains in the ground to determine if it needs to be excavated.
The images will be analysed and a forensic anthropologist is on standby to assist with the investigation.
Gardaí say they are remaining cautious as the dogs can also detect traces of blood and there may be an innocent explanation for what they have found.
The search of the park began on foot of information received by gardaí in two anonymous letters, a printed note to gardaí and a second one more recently delivered to a priest's house in North Dublin.
The investigation team is appealing to the author or authors of those notes to make direct contact with them at Ballymun Garda Station, as they believe they have information which could solve what remains a missing persons case.
Gardaí say they want to reassure people that any contact "will be dealt with in the strictest confidence".
