A man arrested last week in connection with the suspected murder of schoolboy Kyran Durnin has been found dead.
Gardaí and emergency services found the body of 36-year-old Anthony Maguire at his Drogheda home shortly before midday.
It comes just six days after he was arrested and questioned by gardaí investigating Kyran's disappearance, until he was released without charge on Friday evening.
Mr Maguire's house and its adjoining garden was also the subject of what gardaí described as an "intrusive" search that was carried out last Thursday and Friday.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said: "Earlier today, Tuesday, 17th December 2024, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted following the discovery of a body of a male aged in his 30s in a domestic residence in Drogheda, Co Louth.
"The local Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged. The outcome of the post-mortem will determine the course of the investigation.
"No additional information is available at this time."
It is understood that, from early indications, gardaí are treating the incident as "a personal tragedy" and are not looking for anyone else in relation to Mr Maguire’s death.
Mr Maguire was one of two people arrested for questioning last week as part of this murder investigation.
It remains unclear how Mr Maguire’s death will impact the progress that gardaí have been making in finding out where Kyran is or what has happened to him.
Gardaí said the results of the search operation at Mr Maguire's property were not being released for operational reasons.
The search team consisted of members of the local garda divisional search unit, who were supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau, Divisional Scene of Crime and Forensic Science Ireland.
A specialist cadaver dog also assisted gardaí with this search.
Kyran, who was six when last seen alive, was reported missing from his home in Drogheda in August.
In October, gardaí upgraded their missing person's case to a murder investigation, saying they were treating Kyran as missing presumed dead.
Although the missing person inquiry began in August, detectives suspect Kyran may have been killed more than two years ago.
Gardaí said the purpose of last week's search operation was to find any evidence that will provide them with information on Kyran's whereabouts or what has happened to him.
In a statement on Friday evening confirming that the search had been stood down, gardaí also said that the man arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of murder had been released without charge.
This marked the second person arrested and then released without charge as part of this murder investigation.
A woman, aged in her 20s, had been abroad for a period of time but was arrested in Ireland last Tuesday on suspicion of murder before being released without charge.
It is understood that she was known to Kyran and has been a person of interest in the case for some time, and that gardaí have also spoken to her on a number of previous occasions.
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