Gardaí investigating the killing of the schoolboy Robert Holohan in Co Cork are understood to be focusing on a small number of suspects in the belief that he may have been killed during a row by someone he knew.
After a post-mortem examination yesterday revealed no evidence of sexual assault, it is understood that detectives feel it is less likely that he was abducted and murdered by a sex offender.
The post-mortem, carried out by the State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy, confirmed that Robert died from asphyxiation. Although gardaí did not elaborate, it is understood that he choked from being caught in an arm lock.
They are believed to be examining the possibility that Robert may have got into a row with some person he knew and that this disagreement resulted in him being choked, after which the killer panicked and brought the body to a spot close to Inch Strand.
The theory that he knew his assailant is supported by the absence of any evidence of a struggle at the scene where his bicycle was found at Carrigoghna, 500 yards from his home at Ballyedmond outside Midleton. It is understood the post-mortem revealed other injuries which may support the theory that Robert was physically assaulted, but gardaí believe he was not killed where his body was found.
Following examination of the scene and of the body, gardaí are confident about the quality of emerging forensic evidence.
According to one source, comments made by the Assistant Garda Commissioner, Mr Tony Hickey, on Thursday, and reiterated yesterday by Supt Kevin Donohoe, urging Robert's killer to give himself up, reflect the Garda's belief that his death may not have been premeditated.
Mr Hickey told a press conference on Thursday that it was often found that killers and others who committed serious crimes were relieved to be caught and he urged the killer to come forward.
It is understood that gardaí believe he was killed some time on Tuesday, January 4th - the day he disappeared - and dumped at Inch Strand, possibly later that night.
They think the killer is somebody from the Midleton area who knew Robert and who had a good local knowledge of the greater east Cork area, including the terrain around Inch and its suitability for disposing of a body.
Garda sources have confirmed that Robert's upper body was covered with black plastic. Dental records were used to identify him. It appears that his body may have lain for a week or eight days.
Robert left his home at Ballyedmond, Midleton, at about 2.15 p.m., and cycled to some neighbours' houses. The last confirmed sighting was at about 2.30 p.m., though he did phone a friend at 2.36 p.m. on his mobile but he was cut off during the conversation. Gardai want to speak to the driver of white pick-up truck seen midway between Ballyedmond and Carrigoghna where his bike was found at 5.15 p.m.
Supt Liam Hayes expressed confidence that the crime would be solved but he stressed they were following up on several lines of inquiry and were still awaiting the results of DNA tests from the post-mortem which would take some time.
Local curate Father Billy O'Donovan - who spent much of yesterday with Robert's family - said that the news that Robert had not been sexually assaulted had eased fears in the community. "I think it's a relief to everybody - it's possibly not any consolation to Mark and Majella and the family because Robert won't be coming back but it has eased a lot of fears in the community," Father O'Donovan said.
Robert's body was brought home to Ballyedmond last night where his family appealed for privacy ahead of today's funeral Mass at the church of the Most Holy Rosary in Midleton, which is expected to be attended by thousands of mourners.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, spoke by telephone yesterday to the family. A spokesman for the Taoiseach said: "He wanted to speak to them to pass on his sympathies, sympathies that are shared by everybody in the country."