West Cork gardai have confirmed that a boot found in the sea at the weekend was connected to the disappearance of a German couple last seen walking on the cliffs near Goleen on New Year's Eve.
A Garda spokesman said the worst fears for the safety of the couple had now been realised, but added that the search along the coastline in west Cork would not be scaled down until a definite conclusion had been reached.
The couple, Mr Dirk Koch and his partner, Ms Diane Sehmeisch, were caretakers at the west Cork holiday home owned by Mr Andreas Speich, a journalist who works with the German publication Der Spiegel. He wrote a controversial article last year which suggested Irish farmers were using loopholes in EU legislation to avail of extra cash grants.
It is understood he was threatened following its publication. However, after the disappearance of the German couple west Cork gardai ruled out any sinister motive and said the couple probably had lost their lives through natural causes.
Last weekend a wellington boot was recovered from the sea and it has now been linked with the couple's possessions at the holiday home. An item of women's clothing was also found in the water and it is thought that this is also part of the couple's possessions.
Mr Koch was in his 30s and Miss Sehmeisch was 21. When they were last seen the couple, known to be keen walkers, were at the headland near Toe Head on a particularly windy night when gusts regularly reached gale force. Their disappearance came to light the following day when they failed to meet Mr Speich at Cork Airport.
He telephoned neighbours in the vicinity, who found lights still on in the house, food on the table and their possessions intact.