Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of schoolboy Kyran Durnin have finished searching a property and its adjoining garden in Drogheda, Co Louth.
The results of the search are not being released for operational purposes.
However, it is understood that nothing of major significance has been discovered by gardaí.
The missing boy was last seen in 2022 when he was six years old, and detectives are working on the assumption that he may have died more than two years ago.
This three-day search operation focused on the back garden of this property, which is located on a narrow residential street in Drogheda.
As part of the search, a mini-digger was used to carry out extensive excavation works after a large shed in the back garden was dismantled.
Meanwhile, chainsaws and other machinery were used to clear shrubbery in the back garden and gardaí also deployed their own drone over the area.
It is understood that the drone took images to allow gardaí analyse the topography of the garden and identify if there had been any changes or movements in soils or surfaces.
Yesterday, Kyran's father, who is not a suspect in the investigation, arrived at the search site and was visibly upset.
The last confirmed sighting of his son was in or around June 2022.
However, it was more than two years later before he was reported missing at the end of August 2024.
Last October, gardaí took the decision to upgrade their missing person's investigation to one of murder after failing to uncover any evidence that would suggest Kyran was still alive.
Launching this search on Wednesday, gardaí said its purpose was to discover any evidence which might provide them with information as to Kyran's current whereabouts, or what has happened to the missing schoolboy.
However, this evening, gardaí gradually left the search site, then the garda cordon was lifted and the search was stood down.
This was the third such intrusive search operation that was launched as part of this investigation.
Another house in Drogheda and one in Dundalk, where Kyran once lived with his family, were previously searched late last year.
The results of those search operations were also not released due to what gardaí said were "operational purposes".
In a statement this evening confirming that the latest search had been completed, gardaí also renewed their appeal for information.
A garda spokesperson said: "Do not rule out any information that you may have.
"Please do not assume that the investigation team know the information that you may have.
"Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, will be welcomed by the investigation team. This information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
"You can contact the Garda Investigation Team at Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or speak with any member of An Garda Síochána."
Gardaí also said that investigations remain ongoing.
