One of the most intensive garda operations ever
If, as appears possible, they make a significant breakthrough in the next couple of days, it will be as a result of inquiries that began the day Robert Holohan disappeared.
It has been not just a massive effort from the gardaí, but also the people of Midleton, east Cork and beyond. The mobile phone technicians can take some credit.
Even the media was praised by senior gardaí for their help in the probe.
Officially a missing person’s investigation until the body was found early on Wednesday afternoon, those leading the investigation said the resources already in place were comparable to a murder investigation.
From day one, 50 gardaí were involved in making inquiries and a further 50 were involved in the search.
Over 1,000 leads have and are being followed up, many of them following calls from the public. After Thursday’s press conference, gardaí received 100 calls.
Inquiries already made before the body was discovered in undergrowth at Inch Strand formed the foundation of the subsequent murder investigation.
However, as Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey pointed out: “The finding of the body is a breakthrough for us as it provides us with a scene.”
Up to yesterday, however, they had not been able to pinpoint the exact murder scene. It is almost certain Robert was killed around the Midleton area, brought to Inch and his body dumped.
When exactly that happened is not clear, though investigators are certain he did not die on the same day he was snatched. That means the investigation also involves pinpointing where he was held.
Holiday homes, caravans and derelict buildings and outhouses were searched when it was still a missing person’s investigation and some were searched again after the body was found.
The beginning of the end of the search for Robert came early on Tuesday.
Gardaí investigating the abduction of the 11-year-old received information from the mobile phone company O2.
Technical experts from the company placed a signal from the young boy’s mobile phone in the Whitegate, Inch, area.
Teams of searchers, gardaí, army personnel and civilians, were deployed early the following day to the headland at Whitegate.
They fanned out from Whitegate moving towards Inch. Early that afternoon, two civilians made the discovery. The phone was found close to the clothed body of the young boy.
The hunt is now on for a killer. Forensic teams spent two days at the scene, only really finishing their job early yesterday afternoon.
Gardaí were reluctant to release any information on what forensic evidence may have been discovered.
Yesterday, searches continued in the Inch area, again until early afternoon. The focus, however, has switched to Ballinspillane close to the family home.
However, gardaí and Defence Forces personnel continued yesterday to search along the road from Inch to Midleton.
Army engineers with metal detectors, which can detect objects 18 inches under ground, have been deployed. They are looking for what is described as “any evidential material”.
There is some speculation this could include a weapon used to strangle Robert.
However, there is a possibility he was killed by bare hands.
Before it was confirmed yesterday Robert had not been sexually assaulted, one of the avenues of investigation was to check the whereabouts of known violent sexual offenders at the time of the abduction.
The focus is firmly now on east Cork and particularly Midleton.
After the body was found, teams of gardaí returned to canvass those people in the area around where Robert disappeared.
By Thursday evening, they slowly whittled down to 30 the number of individuals they wanted to speak to. That number dropped further yesterday. However, one of them is almost certainly the murderer.
A perplexing element is why others have taken so long to eliminate themselves from inquiries.
Gardaí are still investigating sightings of a number of vehicles.
Of particular interest are two jeeps, one black, one silver, grey, spotted between Ballyedmond and East Cork Golf Club between 1pm and 6pm. A white transit van is also being sought.
A further element is the bike. It now appears that Robert was not snatched from where it was discovered.
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