An extensive search at a property and its adjoining garden in Drogheda, Co Louth being carried out by gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin has been stood down for the night.
The search operation will resume again early tomorrow morning and enter a third day.
The missing schoolboy was last seen in 2022 when he was six years old, and detectives are working on the assumption that he may have died over two years ago.
This afternoon, Kyran's father, who is not a suspect in the investigation, arrived at the search site and was visibly upset.
The back garden of the property in Drogheda remained the focus of the search operation today.
Gardaí used a mini-digger today to continue carrying out excavation works after a large shed in the back garden was dismantled yesterday.
Most of the forensic and technical examinations that are being carried out are taking place out of public view and the area around the house remains sealed off.
This morning, chainsaws and other machinery were being used to clear shrubbery in the back garden and gardaí also deployed their own drone over the area.
It is understood that this drone was used to take pictures, which will allow gardaí to analyse the ground in the back garden, and potentially identify where there have been any changes or movements in soils or surfaces.
Gardaí have said that the purpose of this search operation is to discover any evidence which might provide them with information as to Kyran's current whereabouts, or what has happened to the missing schoolboy.
It is understood that people connected to the property have been of interest in the case for some time.
This is the third such intrusive search to be carried out as part of this investigation.
Another house in Drogheda and one in Dundalk, where Kyran once lived with his family, were searched late last year. The results of these search operations were not released by gardaí for "operational purposes".
Two people, a man and a woman, were previously arrested on suspicion of the schoolboy's murder. Both were subsequently released without charge.
Gardaí have said that despite their extensive and ongoing enquiries to date, as well as members of the public coming forward with information, they have still been unable to locate Kyran who would now be eight years old.
They also have said they are aware of "speculation, rumours and theories" being circulated about what may have happened to Kyran, which they say is not only disrupting their investigation but also adding to trauma being experienced by the affected families.
