AS DUSK began to fall, flashing Garda cars, occasionally passed by members of the news media, gathered on Porterstown Road in west Dublin close to where the body of 12-year-old Michaela Davis was found.
Discovered close to a railway track across a piece of waste ground, only minutes from her home at the Village housing estate off Porterstown Road, the young girl had been missing for about 14 hours since her family alerted gardaí at about 2am on Saturday.
A night that had begun with friends had ended in tragedy for Michaela who had told her parents that she was stepping out for another few minutes after returning home at about midnight.
Dozens of her friends had gathered around the housing estate which is on the periphery of the area that was sealed off by gardaí. Large groups of teenagers came in and out of the estate and some wept at the scene.
Gardaí patrolled the area around the family home in the estate, while the girl’s family were being consoled by family members and friends. Passengers in cars regularly leaving the estate were also weeping.
Beyond the level crossing, near the bridge over the canal, is a vast wasteland canopied by thick bushes and trees. There Michaela’s body was found by a man walking his dog at about 4pm on Saturday.
Two hours later, State Pathologist Prof Marie Cassidy arrived at the scene to carry out a preliminary examination of the body, hampered by its location in thick brambles.
The body remained at the scene for a number of hours after Prof Cassidy had left and was not transferred to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown until late in the night.
An area of wasteland directly across the road from the housing estate had been sealed off by gardaí yesterday morning in a wide search for evidence involving some 80 members of the force.
Michaela’s bicycle was recovered yesterday by investigating officers, who had extended the area sealed off from the public and had completely blocked off access to the Porterstown Road.