The numbed silence among those gathered at the crossroads near Inch strand yesterday confirmed everyone's worst fears.
Gardaí had already cordoned off the narrow boreen leading down beside the furze-filled glen to the strand as the searchers gathered in knots of two and three to talk quietly amongst themselves.
After the initial shock, it was down to waiting for senior gardaí and forensic teams.
Supt Kevin Donohoe of the Garda Press Office gave an initial briefing confirming that a body had been found but he was unable to give age or gender because the body was in an inaccessible area.
Amid the chorus of mobile phones ringing, news came through that another body had been found, that of an elderly man which had been recovered from the river in Midleton.
Midleton curate Father Billy O'Donovan - who had led the prayers at a vigil Mass for Robert Holohan's safe return on Sunday - was escorted inside the Garda cordon at Inch and down to the body, where he performed the last rites.
Back some 400 yards from the crossroads, an elderly couple, Con and Kathleen Herlihy, were deeply shocked at the finding of a body on the quiet cul de sac where they have lived and farmed for decades.
Darkness descended and with it came the news that the body would be kept at the scene overnight.