Gardaí were late last night believed to be close to arresting a man in his early 20s for formal questioning in relation to the killing of Midleton schoolboy, Robert Holohan.
A significant development in the investigation came at lunchtime yesterday when they were contacted by a family in the area.
It is understood that gardaí spoke later yesterday for several hours to a young man in the company of his parents about Robert's disappearance and death.
It is also understood that they obtained a number of warrants last night to search a premises in the Midleton area as part of their preparation of a case against the person they suspect was behind Robert's death.
According to an informed source, gardaí were already focusing on the young male suspect after a forensic examination of the black plastic bag in which Robert's body was wrapped had provided good fingerprint evidence. Gardaí began taking fingerprints voluntarily from about 200 people in Midleton on Saturday. It is understood that the main suspect was among this group.
Detectives had already earmarked the suspect as somebody to be reinterviewed, as tracing on his mobile phone had provided them with valuable evidence that he was in the Inch and Whitegate areas in the aftermath of Robert's disappearance.
Gardaí believe Robert knew the main suspect and that a row broke out between them some time on the afternoon of January 4th, the day the boy disappeared.
They believe the suspect caught Robert in an arm lock and the boy choked, but they also believe that his death may not have been premeditated.
However they think the suspect then panicked and decided to dump Robert's body near Inch Strand. They are still investigating whether the suspect received assistance in disposing of the boy's body, some 12 miles from the Holohan home.
Yesterday's decision by a family to contact investigating gardaí follows an appeal at Robert's funeral Mass on Saturday by the Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, to the killer to come forward.
"May the one who has been responsible for this heinous crime against an innocent child come forward and face up to the responsibilities incurred, pay the debt to society that is owed and seek the mercy and forgiveness of an all-merciful God," Dr Magee said.
It is understood that the main suspect attended the funeral Mass.
Thousands of mourners attended the funeral in Midleton, where most businesses closed and the town came to a standstill.
The local curate, Father Billy O'Donovan, asked mourners to pray for Robert and his grieving family - his parents Mark and Majella, his sister Emma (8) and his brother Harry (4).
Last Thursday at a Garda press conference, the Assistant Garda Commissioner, Mr Tony Hickey - who is leading the investigation - also made an appeal to the killer to surrender, saying that gardaí had found that such people were often relieved to be caught.
Robert left his home at Ballyedmond, Midleton, at about 2.15 p.m. on January 4th and cycled to some neighbours' houses.
The last confirmed sighting was at about 2.30 p.m. although he did phone a friend at 2.36 p.m. on his mobile, but he was cut off during the conversation.
