A preliminary examination on the remains found in a shallow grave on a beach in Co Louth indicates the remains are those of a woman, gardai confirmed tonight.
According to a garda spokesperson the assessment is based on clothing and other items found on the skeletal remains.
An area known as Shelling Hill near Carlingford, approximately a quarter of a mile from Templeton Beach has been sealed off. The skeletal remains are due to be removed to removed to Louth County Hospital this evening and a port-mortem will be carried out tomorrow.
The remains were found in a shallow grave approximately one foot below the surface by a man out walking today. The site is close to where a search began for a missing Belfast woman began three years ago.
In 1999 and 2000 searches were conducted for the remains of Mrs Jean McConville, who is thought to be buried under the carpark at Templeton beach, near Carlingford, Co Louth. However, the searches yielded no results.
Mrs McConville's son Michael (41) was one of the relatives at the scene tonight. He said: "I'm just hoping to bring this nightmare to an end. "It has been 30 years of hell for all of us. I just hope it's her to get thisover and done with.
"We were told local people came across the body by accident."
He said he was not concerned at whether previous information given to the Gardai about the location of the body was correct. He added: "All my concern is whether it's my mother's body."
The site was identified by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains in 1999. The mother of ten children was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1972.