Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Deirdre Jacob have begun searching a remote wooded area in south Kildare.
A cold case review has found that "unusual activity" was spotted in the location on the evening she vanished over 20 years ago.
Gardai are searching the 3.5 acre site in Taggartstown in Co Kildare for any evidence into her disappearance and murder.
The 18-year-old was last seen near her home in Newbridge - which is about 15km away - in July 1998.
In August 2019, detectives on the case upgraded their missing person investigation to a murder investigation.
A cold case review flagged some witness statements about the evening she disappeared.
Inspector John Fitzgerald says they’ve found this information more relevant than initially thought.
He said: "The woodland we're at here today was identified as an area of interest that may be relevant to the investigation.
"All I'll say is as part of the review, witness evidence was examined and deemed relevant to this area.
"There was unusual activity noticed at the woodland in or around the time Deirdre went missing. Based on that, we felt it prudent to commence a thorough search."
A cursory search has already been conducted, with October considered the best time to more thoroughly search the area.
Officially gardai say they’re looking for any evidence into Deirdre Jacob’s disappearance, but sources have confirmed they’re looking for her remains.
They’re also keeping an eye out for any evidence relating to the disappearance of other women in Leinster, such as Jo Jo Dullard who went missing close to the search site in 1995.
Gardaí say today is a big step but they want to manage any expectations about the search, which will take up to three weeks.
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