The Disappeared Commission has confirmed that human remains found in a grave in Co Monaghan last year are not those of Joe Lynskey, who was abducted and murdered by the IRA more than 50 years ago.
Remains were recovered from a family grave at Annyalla outside Clontibret in Co Monaghan in late November after information was received.
Now the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR), commonly referred to as the Disappeared Commission, has confirmed they are not the remains of Mr Lynskey.
It has also said the remains are not those of anyone belonging to the family buried in the grave.
Neither do they belong to any of the remaining members of the so-called 'Disappeared', a group of people abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
Gardaí confirmed they informed the ICLVR of the results of DNA testing on the human remains exhumed at Anyalla last year.
In a statement, gardaí added they are making inquiries to assist the coroner in an attempt to establish the correct identity of the remains.
Mr Lynskey, a former Cistercian monk and IRA member, was abducted and shot by his organisation in the summer of 1972.
He was only added to the list of the Disappeared in 2010.
In a statement, the Disappeared Commission's lead investigator, Jon Hill, said the exhumation had been carried out on 26 November and the remains recovered were sent for analysis.
Mr Hill said: "The results of the DNA examination of the remains have now eliminated them as being those of the family to whom the grave belongs and now also eliminated them as being those of Joe Lynskey or any of the Disappeared.
"All the interested parties, including the Lynskey family, have been informed.
"We know that this news is deeply disappointing for the Lynskey family and the thoughts of everyone in the commission are with them at this most difficult time.
"We are also conscious that this was a distressing experience for the family whose grave was opened to facilitate the exhumation."
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Hill said that a previous search for Mr Lynskey resulted in the discovery of two other bodies.
'It's just so tragic that an event such as this has happened to the same family on two occasions," Mr Hill said.
"On the first occasion, back in 2012 I think it was, we recovered the remains of Seamus Wright and Kevin McKee," he said, adding "and again, that was we were undertaking the search for Joe Lynskey".
Mr Hill said the decision to exhume the grave was not taken lightly and appealed for anyone who may have fresh information to come forward.
He added that a "number of strains of information put together" lead to the exhumation.
The announcement leaves four listed members of the Disappeared still to be found.
Along with Mr Lynskey, the others are Columba McVeigh, Seamus Maguire and British soldier Robert Nairac.
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Minister assures commission of continued support
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said his thoughts were with the Lynskey family who, he said, "have had to endure this particular cruelty for over 50 years".
"I held hope that the Lynskey family would finally be able to lay him to rest. I am saddened that this is not the case," he said.
Mr O'Callaghan acknowledged the distress caused to the family whose grave was opened during the exhumation and thanked them for their understanding in difficult circumstances.
"I want also to commend the dedicated and ceaseless humanitarian work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains," the minister said.
"I assure them and the families of the Disappeared of my and the Government's support for their ongoing work," he added.
Mr O'Callaghan appealed to anyone with information on any of the Disappeared that could assist the families to share this information with the commission now.
Meanwhile, UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn expressed sadness upon hearing the news that the remains exhumed were not those of Mr Lynskey.
"My thoughts are with his family, who have faced decades of uncertainty and heartache," Mr Benn said.
He said the development is "a reminder of the importance of this humanitarian work", adding "every piece of information, no matter how small, could help bring closure and peace to these families who have waited so long for answers".
"I urge anyone who may have information that could help locate Joe's remains or those of Columba McVeigh, Captain Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire to come forward in confidence to the ICLVR," he added.
