Gardaí believe they have discovered the remains of a man who went missing in Co Cork almost four years ago - just days after his skull was found in a field.
A major search was launched after the upper part of a human skull discovered on Wednesday last on a farm near the town of Buttevant was identified as that of William O'Brien.
Gardaí searching in the same area in Tullig this evening are believed to have discovered the rest of the remains of the man.
Mr O'Brien, who hailed from Buttevant in North Cork, was reported missing on April 24, 2002.
A garda said: "We believe we have found the remains of Mr O'Brien. They were discovered nearby to where the skull was found."
The garda spokeswoman said anthropologists would have to formally identify the remains to ensure they were those of Mr O'Brien. Mr O'Brien, aged 42, was last seen at 2am on April 23, 2002 at Pepperhill near Buttevant.
A landowner discovered the upper part of the human skull at around 4pm on Wednesday on a farm in Tullig.
It is believed the remains may have been brought to rest on the farmland by a fox or dog.
The skull was found in the centre of a field, and it is believed it was not buried.
Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster identified the skull as that of Mr O'Brien through dental records.
The garda spokeswoman said they do not yet know whether Mr O'Brien's death was suspicious.