Gardaí investigating the disappearance of English builder Tommy Thompson (59) have arrested a man.
The man, who is in his 30s, was arrested this morning and is being held at Portlaoise Garda station.
Mr Thompson (59), originally from Yorkshire, moved to Ireland to work. He worked as a plasterer in Portlaoise before his disappearance on April 21st last.
A postmortem on a body discovered in Co Laois yesterday began this morning, gardaí confirmed. The remains have not been formally identified, but they are believed to be those of Mr Thompson.
Gardaí discovered the remains yesterday afternoon during the search of an area in Dysart, Portlaoise. Garda forensic and technical teams carried out examinations of the scene yesterday.
Superintendent Philip Lyons, who is leading this investigation, renewed an appeal for information about Mr Thompson's disappearance. Detectives are also looking for Mr Thompson's blue Renault van, registration number 06-LS-2453.
In December, gardaí "stood down" searches for Mr Thompson. Gardaí, using sniffer dogs from the Garda dog unit searched a six-acres area of land between Portlaoise and Stradbally but found nothing.
Mr Thompson had last been in touch with his wife and other family members in Yorkshire by phone on April 21st, but they heard nothing from him since then. Family members contacted gardaí.
Neighbours on Borris Road in Portlaoise had not seen Mr Thompson in some time.
It is understood gardaí established that Mr Thompson had fallen out with a number of people he was in contact with.
The homes of two men who knew Mr Thompson well were searched before Christmas. The two men were arrested and charged with stealing items from Borris Road, where Mr Thompson had lived.