Three people have been arrested as part of an investigation into the murder of William Delaney, who went missing almost seven years ago.
Two women in their 30s and 50s and one man in his 30s are being held at garda stations in the midlands and southwest regions.
Tipperary native William Delaney had been living in Portlaoise with his large family.
On the morning of 30 January 2019, the 56-year-old left Portlaoise General Hospital, where he had been a patient, and collected his welfare payment at Portlaoise Post Office.
He was last seen at 3pm that afternoon in Monasterevin, Co Kildare, where he called to visit a relative in the area.
The relative was not at home but Mr Delaney was seen outside the premises, which is on the old Cork-Dublin Road directly opposite a local landmark known as the Hazel Hotel.
He was then reported missing by his family on Wednesday 6 March, 2019.
In June of that year, gardaí received information that Mr Delaney had been killed and that his body had been buried at a location in Co Laois.
A comprehensive search was conducted in the area surrounding the Rock of Dunamase but no remains were discovered.
