A search is under way at a woods in east Cork as part of the investigation into the disappearance of a 46-year-old woman from her home in Youghal last year.
Tina Satchwell has not been seen since she disappeared from the home she shared with her husband Richard in Youghal on 20 March 2017.
Gardaí have sealed off Mitchel's Wood outside Castlemartyr in east Cork following information from what was described as a credible source.
The search is expected to last a number of weeks.
Richard Satchwell has said he believes his wife had planned to disappear.
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Speaking to RTÉ's Prime Time in January, he said he last saw his wife on the morning of 20 March last year as he left the house to run errands in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
He said that when he returned home, Tina was gone and more than €26,000 was gone from a secret hiding place.
"She obviously felt she needed a break, to get her thoughts together, to get her head straight," he said.
He also said that his wife had been dealing with depression.
Mr Satchwell has said he does not believe his wife harmed herself and also believes she must have had help to go missing.
Gardaí have issued an appeal for information and said 220 separate lines of inquiry have been followed up so far in the investigation, including liaising with Interpol.
They said the Satchwell family was informed about the search operation.
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A niece of Ms Satchwell has said the "family is trying to stay strong but it is hard".
Speaking to RTÉ News, Sarah Howard said that the family fears the worst but they have to remain hopeful. She said that the worst part was not knowing where her aunt is.
She said that she and her family still hope that Ms Satchwell will come home, but as the anniversary of her disappearance approaches, they need closure as well.
Asked what she knew about the search of the woodlands, Ms Howard said she had been surprised to be contacted by gardaí last Friday and was shocked when she heard what they were planning to do.
"It was unexpected and I was shocked. It is not really something you want to hear," she said.
Ms Howard said while she was told it was going ahead, she was not told what information gardaí had.
Asked about her reaction to the search getting under way today, she said: "It isn't a nice thing to wake up to, but we are just trying to stay strong but it is hard."
Ms Howard appealed to anyone with information on her missing aunt to contact gardaí.
