The slurry tanks on the farm of a missing man in Co Kerry have been emptied.
An extensive search has been ongoing since 56-year-old Michael Gaine was reported missing near Kenmare last Friday.
Concrete slats were cut and removed to allow full access to the slurry tank.
Mr Gaine, who is also known as Mike, was last seen in Kenmare town on Thursday morning.
This morning, Mr Gaine's farmyard remained sealed off as investigating gardaí continued with their search, which is focused on the farm buildings and old farm dwellings.
Sniffer dogs were used while members of the Civil Defence combed some of the fields close to the farmyard.
Diggers excavated outside the farm buildings and near a stream below the farmyard.
The gardaí said they will continue with their search and will return to areas already searched over the coming days.
A multi-agency search effort has included gardaí, Civil Defence, the Coast Guard, Kerry Mountain Rescue and up to 250 volunteers. Garda helicopter and drones have also been involved in aerial surveys.
A vehicle was removed from the farmyard by gardaí on Saturday.
The initial search area was vast, comprising hundreds of acres of rough mountainous terrain on the southern slopes of the McGillycuddy's Reeks, not far from the well-known beauty spot of Moll's Gap.
Yesterday, however gardaí did not request volunteer assistance and the wider land search was scaled back considerably.
Much of the activity is now focused on Mr Gaine’s farmyard. Yesterday contractors were emptying the slurry tanks in the cattle shed. A digger was also on site with significant excavation being carried out beside the farm buildings and an old dwelling house.
While this is still being treated as a missing person case, gardaí say they are keeping an open mind.
Mr Gaine was last seen in a shop in Kenmare town on Thursday shortly before 10am when he purchased phone credit.
Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have dashcam footage taken last Thursday to Friday on the N71, the main road between Kenmare and Killarney, in the Moll's Gap area, to make that footage available to them.
