Gardai began excavating the back garden of a house in Dalkey today in the search for the body of a baby boy who they believe was buried there over thirty years ago.
The excavation is linked to the April 1973 discovery of the body of a baby girl in a laneway behind George's Street in Dun Laoghaire. Despite an exhaustive investigation at the time, the identity of the baby and her mother was never established.
Further information relating to that case came to light in the mid-1990s. Following an inquiry, a file was sent to the DPP who directed that no charges be brought.
A spokesman for the Garda Press Office said ongoing investigations into that case had uncovered the possibility of the existence of the body of a second infant born some time in the early to mid 1970s.
The excavation is due to last for a number of days.
Gardai have stressed the sensitivity of the case given family members are still living in the jurisdiction.