The search for missing 11-year-old Robert Holohan has been suspended this evening because of the onset of nighttime.
Tonight will be the fourth night that Robert has been missing. Garda[AC]i are hopeful that there will be large turnout of volunteers at daybreak tomorrow to help in the search
Storm force winds and heavy rain hampered the third day of the search in east Cork.
The search for Robert had resumed this morning with the aid of approximately 500 volunteers.
Gardaí hoped to concentrate on draining of a number of slurry pits in the area as part of the search.
Robert's parents issued an appeal to people yesterday to search their premises in case he may be lying injured somewhere.
Gardaí say they still have an open mind on what could have happened to Robert and while there is no evidence to suggest he was abducted, they cannot rule such a possibility out of their inquiries.
Yesterday a massive search operation saw up to 1,200 volunteers comb approximately ten square miles around Robert's home at Ballyedmond two miles north of Midleton town, but it failed to turn up any clues as to the young boy's disappearance.
"It's baffling, to be honest," said Supt Liam Hayes, as he admitted that gardaí were growing increasingly concerned. Robert was last night facing into his third night away from home following his disappearance on Tuesday afternoon.
He has not been seen since he left his home on a BMX bike that day. The bike was later found lying against a hedge nearby by neighbours.
His parents, Mark and Majella Holohan, spoke of their anguish since their son's disappearance and reiterated their appeal to anyone who may have any information to contact the gardaí.