The family of a man who disappeared more than a year ago face an anxious wait as forensic experts work to identify a skull and human remains found in a wooded area of Co Wicklow.
Gardai discovered skeletal remains and several objects, which may have belonged to the deceased, today when they resumed searching a wooded area in Ballyfolan, close to Blessington.
Garda dog teams and technical units have been searching the area for several days following the discovery of a human skull by forestry workers last Thursday.
The skull, which is estimated to belong to a male between the age of 18 and 50, has been sent to the State laboratory for identification.
Gardai have sought the help of a forensic anthropologist to help their investigation.
Relatives of Paul Byrne, a 20-year-old from Tallaght who went missing last year, attended the scene of the search operation on Friday and say they fear the human remains could be his.
Mr Byrne, who is a father of two children, was last seen getting into a car outside his home on July 15th, 2009. His family fear he was murdered and his body hidden.
Several objects have been found at the scene including a set of keys, a bracelet and track suit bottoms, which are expected to help the identification process.
A Garda spokesman said the skull and human remains had not yet been formally identified and searches of the wooded area were expected to continue over the next few days.
Detectives recently renewed a public appeal for information on Mr Byrne's disappearance on the first anniversary of his disappearance.
If the remains belong to the missing father they are likely to change the status of their investigation to a murder inquiry.