Kingscourt searches not for ciara breen garda

Gardai say that they wish to make it clear that searches taking place in Kingscourt are not in connection with the search for missing Ciara Breen.

The searches in Kingscourt are “part of an ongoing operation” according to the gardai and not linked to Ciara Breen’s disappearance, it has been confirmed to the Celt.

Ciara has been missing since February of 1997. On Monday a 60 year-old man was arrested by gardai on suspicion of withholding information - he was later released without charge.

Gardaí this week began a hush-hush search the banks of bodies of water outside of Kingscourt, as part of an “ongoing investigation” into criminality.

On Monday morning at around 9am specialist Garda units travelled from Dundalk Garda District to meet outside Kingscourt Garda Station for the search of the Ervey Lake area and, it is understood, in particular, of the banks of a stream that flows into the lake on the Cavan-Meath border.
Gardaí in Cavan, Bailieborough and Kells Garda districts say they are not involved with the search and dig and are remaining tight-lipped about details of the operation.

The Garda Press Office confirmed the ongoing “criminal investigation” was the reason for the search, where locals viewed armed gardaí among the parties at the watery scene all day on Monday. Gardaí had vacated the scene, however, at 5pm, only to return yesterday morning.

A source said: “Arms dumps and bunkers have been located on river-banks and lake-sides in the past due to the need to dispose of the earth if they are burying arms, or whatever, so they just dispose of it in the water during their night-time operations.”

The Garda Press Office had no updates on any “significant” developments arising from the search.

Gardaí are conducting searches outside Kingscourt, Co Cavan, as part of a criminal investigation. We are not in a position to provide any more detail at this point,” said the spokesperson, who added 'the search for missing person Ciara Breen is centred in the Dundalk area'.

A detective presence can be observed in the fields next to the specialist units, who were digging at the banks of the stream. The search and dig is expected to last all of this week.