The family of the German tourist, Ms Bettina Poeschel, were last night travelling from their home in Munich following the discovery of the partially decomposed body of a woman in dense undergrowth at Donore, Co Meath.
Ms Poeschel was last seen in the Donore and Drogheda area on September 25th.
She had indicated her intention to visit the ancient burial site at Newgrange, about three miles from Donore, although it is not known if she arrived.
Ms Poeschel (28), a journalist, was travelling alone on the day she disappeared. Friends with whom she had been staying reported her missing when she could not be contacted and when she missed a flight the following day.
Ms Poeschel's father, Juergeu, and her younger sister, Cornelia, were due to return to Ireland this week for their third meeting with the Garda team investigating her disappearance.
The State pathologist, Dr John Harbison, arrived at the scene to examine the body, which lay about 10 feet off the main Drogheda to Donore road, yesterday evening.
The body was later removed to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, where a post-mortem examination was to be carried out.
Mr Frank Godfrey, who lives just 50 yards from where the body was found yesterday, said he believed he had spoken to a woman, who may have been Ms Poeschel, on September 25th. She had called to the house, as many tourists do, to ask directions to Newgrange.
He was "shocked and very upset" at the discovery of the body yesterday. "It's a very emotional time for all the people of Donore," he said. "This is a peaceful place without any crime. I have lived over 20 years in this community and this is one of the saddest days of my life." Mr Godfrey said he wanted to convey his sympathies to Ms Poeschel's family at this time. "Our hearts and prayers are with them."
Local people were shocked yesterday as the news of the discovery emerged and a Garda cordon was put up around the area.