GARDAÍ ARE continuing to search for human remains at a wooded area in Co Wicklow where a human skull was discovered on Thursday.
The skull, which is believed to be that of a man, was found at about 1.30pm at Ballyfolan, near Manor Kilbride outside Blessington.
Two workmen clearing the wooded area, which is on private land, made the grim discovery.
Relatives of Paul Byrne, a 20-year-old from Tallaght who went missing last year, attended the scene and spoke to gardaí leading the search operation.
Speaking at the scene, Debbie Byrne, who is Mr Byrne’s aunt, said the family didn’t wish to comment until they knew more about the discovery.
Mr Byrne, who is a father of two, was last seen getting into a car outside his home on July 15th, 2009. His family fear he was murdered and his body hidden.
A specialist Garda dog unit is searching the wooded area and surrounding fields for further remains.
Members of the Garda Technical Unit are also searching the area, which is located about 4km from Manor Kilbride and 10km from Blessington.
Supt Eamonn Keogh, who is based at Baltinglass Garda station, said animals may have moved human remains around the site. He said there were animal bones in the area.
“Nothing has been discovered so far and we will keep searching,” Supt Keogh told reporters yesterday afternoon as gardaí continued to search the wooded area.
Last night the Garda said a couple of additional items had been found at the site and removed for examination.
State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy attended the scene on Thursday evening and determined that the skull probably belonged to a man.
Supt Keogh said the best estimate was that the skull belonged to a male aged between 18 and 50. He said the skull had probably been at the scene for between one and 20 years.
He said the skull had been removed from the scene for technical examination and there may not be a definitive identification until later today.
Gardaí have sought the help of a forensic anthropologist to help the investigation.
The wooded area where the skull was discovered is in a picturesque hilly area of Co Wicklow with few houses and fields populated by sheep. It is a few kilometres away from the Kilbride Army camp and firing range. The owner of the nearest house to the site said she first heard of the discovery on the radio yesterday morning.
“It’s a very quiet neighbourhood here. But when you live in country areas you don’t know what is going to happen,” she said.
Paul Byrne was last seen wearing a white T-shirt with a red Nike emblem, grey tracksuit bottoms and white K-Swiss runners on Wednesday July 15th, 2009.
The Garda recently renewed a public appeal for information in the case.