This week, a search began in Co Kildare by gardai investigating the disappearance of Deirdre Jacob who was last seen in July 1998 near her home in Newbridge.

Over the course of the coming weeks, it's understood a three-acre woodland site will be closely examined as part of a renewed focus on the case.

Deirdre is one of at least six women who vanished in the east of the country in the 1990s.

The family of another missing woman, Jo Jo Dullard, say they are praying the developments in Deirdre’s case will bring about answers for them.

The search of the site began last Monday and will last up to three weeks, investigators have said.

On Deise Today this morning (Thursday), presenter Maria McCann spoke to Conor Lally, crime correspondent with The Irish Times, about the information that has led to the developments this week....

It is believed that during a 'cold case' review, gardai re-interviewed witnesses who were also part of the original file.

One element of this was a re-examination of alleged movements around a woodland 16 kilometres south of Newbridge at the time of Deirdre's disappearance....