A witness has come forward to An Garda Síochána, linking the disappearance in 1986 of Dublin schoolboy Philip Cairns, aged 13, with the recently deceased convicted paedophile Eamon Cooke, but gardaí say this has not yet led to positive results.

Eamon Cooke was a convicted paedophile, who was found guilty of 42 assault charges in 2007 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He died in a hospice last week, aged 79.

The Garda cold case unit, which investigates unsolved homicides and high-profile missing person cases, has had its staffing cut by almost 50% in the past two years.

Since last Monday, a specialist search team from the local station, backed up by experts from the Garda Technical Bureau, and from Thursday by a team of sniffer dogs, have been combing the marsh land area, known as Balmers Bog, on the Ardee Road in the Co Louth town.

Ciara Breen vanished aged 17 from her home on Bachelors Walk, where she lived with her mother, on February 13, 1997.

Retired detective said scene of murders carried out by Mark Nash will stay with him for the rest of his life

There were mounting hopes yesterday of a breakthrough in the investigation into the disappearance of Dundalk, Co Louth, teenager Ciara Breen in February 1997 after gardaí arrested a prime suspect for a second time.

Graham Dwyer is expected to be investigated by gardaí in relation to a number of suspected murders and missing women cases, Garda sources said.

A Garda chief superintendent told a murder trial yesterday that he retrieved clothing from the home of a man accused of murdering two women 18 years ago.

A man charged with a 1997 double murder said a confession made by him in relation to the killings was “produced” by gardaí, a jury has heard.

Crumbling loyalties could lead to breakthroughs in many of the missing women cases, according to a senior garda who investigated them.

Fingertip searches and digs are due to take place at the scene where the skeletal remains of woman were found on Friday, as Gardaí made contact with realtives of missing women.

There have been fresh claims about the standard of the police investigation into the murder of Michaela McAreavey as a man dubbed the prime suspect in her death has denied any involvement.

The John Smith's Silver Cup (2.25 York) is a typically strong 15-runner handicap in which a case can be made for a number of the runners, but perhaps the most compelling of all can be built around the progressive Suraj, who sits neatly at the very bottom of the racecard.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte said he had “no hand” in determining how RTÉ dealt with a recent defamation case over comments he made on air.

The Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte says he had "no hand in determining" how RTE defended or settled a libel action last week.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore would not comment on whether Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte should apologise to RTÉ licence-fee payers after the broadcaster reached a settlement out of court for comments he made on air.

Overturn has been handed stall eight as he bids to land back-to-back victories in the StanJames.com Chester Cup on the Roodee on Wednesday.

Jeremy Noseda’s decision to fly Johnny Murtagh over to Lingfield yesterday to partner Valbchek suggested the colt took a high rank in his stable, and there was no reason to doubt the trainer after the Play Mobile Bingo With williamhillbingo.com Maiden Stakes.

Aidan O'Brien's Await The Dawn has been drawn close to the inside in stall two in the Group One Dubai Duty Free over nine furlongs at Meydan on Saturday.

MORNING prices exist, at least on occasions, to keep punters in the style to which they have become accustomed.

Kieren Fallon’s desire to regain the jockeys’ title burned as brightly as the autumn sun as the in-form rider rattled off another two winners at Ascot.

THE death has taken place of former lightweight jockey Richard Fox.

Naqshabban puts his unbeaten record on the line as he aims to seal a Royal Ascot place with an eye-catching run in the Novase Bloodstock Insurance Fairway Stakes at Newmarket tomorrow.

Klammer heads for the Coventry Stakes after maintaining his 100% record with victory in the 32RedPoker.com Novice Stakes at Newmarket.

FRANKIE Dettori treated Chester racegoers to a flying dismount yesterday after boosting the prospects of his probable Investec Derby mount, Chabal, with victory aboard Azmeel in the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes.

Rank outsider Autumn Blades sprang a 25-1 surprise by landing the Sl Investment Management Earl Grosvenor Handicap at Chester under Franny Norton today.

Frankie Dettori treated Chester racegoers to a flying dismount after boosting the prospects of his probable Investec Derby mount, Chabal, with victory aboard Azmeel in the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes.

Alan Bailey believes his Rockfel and Cheveley Park Stakes runner-up Aspen Darlin will stay a mile next spring.

Serious Attitude illustrated just how serious she is by maintaining her unblemished record and returning trainer Rae Guest to the big time in the 32Red.com Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Rae Guest's Serious Attitude faces a steep rise in class in the 32red.com Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.

George Baker is looking towards a potentially big payday for Excellerator in Thursday’s £250,000 (€315,500) Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket.

David Nicholls once again lived up to his 'Sprint King' moniker as he sent out Regal Parade to lead home a one-two in the John Smith's Ayr Gold Cup.

Fleeting Spirit will be prepared for a crack at the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot after setting a new course record in the betfred.com Temple Stakes at Haydock.

Trainer Evan Williams was the man to follow at Ludlow as he sent out a hat-trick highlighted by a double for rider John Flavin.

Timmy Murphy is riding at the top of his form and took his score in the past 15 days to 13 winners when completing a double on Supreme Catch and Tora Bora at Market Rasen.

Guilia bids to sign off for the season on a winning note in the Listed EBF River Eden Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield tomorrow.

Franny Norton came in for a choice spare ride on Princess Iris in the Sportsman Newspaper Firth Of Clyde Stakes to complete a 95-1 double at Ayr.

Glenbuck made it four wins on the bounce in the toteplacepot Handicap at Ayr.

Inappropriate leading questions by investigating gardaí led homeless drug addict Dean Lyons to make a false confession to a double murder, an inquiry concluded today.

Forcing tactics paid dividends for Manouche when Kevin Ryan’s charge held off the 8-11 favourite Historic Appeal by half a length in the Jock Whitelaw Maiden Stakes at Musselburgh.

Alan Bailey will appear at the Jockey Club on Thursday to contest the decision by the Huntingdon stewards to punish him over the running and riding of Ballycroy Girl at the Cambridgeshire track last month.

EVEN as exceptions that prove the rule go, the lapdancer’s tale was exceptional. American and moneyed, she had little in common with the other young women discovered providing the entertainment at a series of clubs raided in a special garda operation last year.

FRANKIE DETTORI and Kieren Fallon have a triple incentive to get among the winners in the Blue Square Shergar Cup at Ascot today.