A search at a Co Wicklow quarry as part of the investigation into the disappearance and murders of Deirdre Jacob and Jo Jo Dullard in the 1990s has ended for the night.
It will resume tomorrow and is expected to continue for a number of days.
Gardaí are searching open ground at the location near the Wicklow/Kildare border.
The land will be searched and subject to excavation and technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.
It is understood that gardaí are acting on new information that has come to light in recent times which they deem sufficient to carry out this dig.
It is believed their focus is on uncovering items that may have evidential value in these investigations.
Over three decades the disappearance of the two women has been linked at different times with both the same suspect and different suspects.
It is significant that today’s search links both cases to this site.
Gardaí have been aware of the site for some time but this is the first time it has been formally searched.
During today’s operation, a digger removed significant amounts of soil from one spot which appears to be the focus of the search.
Gardaí say they are keeping an open mind into the investigations and will follow up any information which is brought to the investigation team based at the Serious Crime Review Team.
The search operation is being led by the Serious Crime Review Team, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau, and local resources from the Kildare Division.
Jo Jo Dullard, who was 21, travelled to Dublin to socialise on 9 November 1995.
She missed the last bus home to Kilkenny and boarded a bus to Naas, in Co Kildare, instead, from where she intended to hitch a lift to her home in Callan.
After taking two lifts to reach Moone in Co Kildare, she telephoned a friend at 11.37pm.
This was the last anyone heard from her. She was reported missing the following morning.
Deirdre Jacob was last seen at around 3pm on Tuesday 28 July 1998 crossing the road towards the entrance to her home at Roseberry, Newbridge, Co Kildare.
When last seen, the 18-year-old was wearing a navy v-neck T-shirt with white trim on the collar and sleeves, navy or black straight jeans and blue Nike runners.
She was carrying a distinctive black satchel-type bag with long shoulder-straps with CAT in large yellow letters printed on the front of the bag. The bag has never been found.
Gardaí say the Dullard and Jacob families have been informed about the search in Wicklow and will be updated in relation to the investigation.
They are also appealing to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant people might believe it to be, to contact any garda station.
Anyone who would like to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
Watch: RTÉ's Eastern Correspondent Samantha Libreri reports from the Wicklow/Kildare border
