GARDAI from Dublin and Clare yesterday began excavating a two acre site and a small lake on a farm in Co Clare in their search for the body of a woman who disappeared 10 years ago.
Gardai believe that Mrs Mary McGuire (46), of Ballykilty, Quin, who went missing on May 3rd, 1987, was shot and her remains buried. She was married with seven adult children.
A 62 year old Co Clare man is being held at Ennis Garda station on a firearms charge under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
Chief Supt Michael Carty, who is in charge of operations, said gardai had gathered a considerable amount of information.
The file on Mrs McGuire's disappearance had never been closed, he added, and new information had intensified the inquiry.
It was stated that a neighbour reported that on the night Mrs McGuire disappeared a shot had been heard in the area.
The Garda Emergency Response Unit, the Clare Divisional Search Team and a sub aqua unit backed up by the technical support unit is conducting the search under the new Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1997.
Insp Michael Gallagher said this was one of the first occasions that a warrant had been issued under this Act.
It was granted to Insp Gallagher by Justice Albert O'Dea.