After several weeks of little or no apparent progress, the Garda investigation into the disappearance and murder of eight year-old Kyran Durnin is now gathering pace.

On Tuesday of this week, December 10th, Gardaí arrested a woman in her twenties as she entered the country at Dublin Port and held her for 24 hours of questioning.

That woman was released yesterday but today a man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder and they have begun searching a house and back garden at 416 Beechwood Drive in Drogheda.

The search is being carried out by the Divisional Search team, supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau, Divisional Scene of Crime and Forensic Science Ireland and is being supported by a specialist cadaver dog.

Gardaí say that they will be searching two houses and it is thought that when they are finished in Beeechwood Drive, they will search a house and garden in Hand Street.

These searches follow previous searches of a private house, the back garden and adjoining open ground at Emer Terrace in Dundalk back in October which, despite technical and forensic examinations revealed nothing of consequence.

“The purpose of these searches is to discover any evidence which might provide us with information as to Kyran's current whereabouts or what has happened to Kyran” a Garda spokesperson said this morning.

“The male arrested on suspicion of murder continues to be detained under section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the east of the country.”

“A search at the second house continues and is expected to continue for a period of time. The House and gardens will be subject to intrusive search and subject to technical and forensic examinations.”

Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána has renewed its appeal for anyone with any information, on the disappearance and murder of Kyran Durnin, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact the Garda Investigation Team.

You can call Drogheda Garda Station on 041 987 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or speak with any member of An Garda Síochána.