A search operation is under way on open ground near Grangecon in Co Wicklow as the murder investigation into the disappearance of Jo Jo Dullard is intensified.
It comes after a man was arrested in connection with the murder of Ms Dullard, who has been missing for 29 years.
The man in his 50s was arrested in Co Kildare this morning and is being detained at a garda station in the county.
It is the first arrest in the case, which was upgraded from a missing persons to a murder inquiry four years ago.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The search operation is being carried out on open ground near the Wicklow/Kildare border.
Gardaí say this area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming day.
Specialist expertise including a forensic archaeologist has been engaged, while the air space in the area has been restricted.
Two homes have also been searched.
The 55-year-old man who is in custody is from the Kildare/Wicklow border.
He has been a person of interest in this case for a long time because gardaí suspect he may have had some contact with Jo Jo Dullard on the night she went missing.
Gardaí have spoken to him a number of times over the years, but this is the first time that he, or anyone else, has been arrested as part of this investigation.
It is also clear that gardaí have developed significant new lines of inquiry in this case and developed - what they believe - is substantial new evidence in this case, because that evidence has allowed them to reach the threshold whereby they can arrest a person on suspicion of murder.
That person remains in garda custody tonight while that evidence is being put to him and his period of detention has already been extended.
On Saturday, gardaí renewed their appeal for information on the 21-year-old's disappearance.
On 9 November 1995, Ms Dullard travelled to Dublin where she spent the evening socialising in Bruxelles Bar on Harry Street.
She missed her last bus home to Kilkenny that evening and instead at 10pm boarded a bus to Naas, Co Kildare, where she then intended to hitchhike the rest of the way home to Callan, Co Kilkenny.
Read more:
What is known about Jo Jo Dullard's disappearance?
Missing to murder: The long search to find Jo Jo Dullard
Ms Dullard hitched a lift from Naas to the old N9 road at Kilcullen, Co Kildare. At approximately 11.15pm, she hitched another lift to Moone, Co Kildare.
In Moone, Ms Dullard made a telephone call to her friend Mary Cullinan at 11.37pm.
During that call, Ms Dullard told Ms Cullinan that a car had stopped for her, and she was going to take the lift.
This was the last known interaction with her.
On Friday 10 November 1995, Jo Jo's sister, Kathleen, reported her missing and a missing persons investigation commenced.
The disappearance of Ms Dullard has been the subject of a sustained garda investigation, by the investigation team based at Naas Garda Station.
The investigation is subject to ongoing review by the Serious Crime Review Team, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
In November 2020, on the 25th anniversary of her disappearance, gardaí confirmed that it was classified as a murder investigation as they were satisfied that serious harm came to Ms Dullard on or about the night of 9 November 1995.
Gardaí have urged anyone with information to contact Naas Garda Station on 045 884 300 or any garda station.
Anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
