Controlled explosion carried out on bomb components found at Ciara Breen search site

The army bomb disposal team pictured at Balmer’s Bog yesterday afternoon

The army bomb disposal team have confirmed that bomb component parts were found at the site of the ongoing search for missing Dundalk teenager Ciara Breen.

The Defence Forces were called to the site at Balmer’s Bog yesterday, where Gardaí and army personnel have been searching for Ciara’s remains for the past three weeks, after a suspicious device was discovered. They were determined to be bomb component parts but were made safe by controlled explosion shortly after 6pm.

The items found were understood to have been there for some time.

Then 17, Ciara hasn’t been seen since leaving her home in the Bachelor’s Walk area of Dundalk on February 13th 1997.

Bomb squad called after suspect device is found in search for Ciara Breen

The army bomb disposal team pictured at Balmer’s Bog this afternoon

The army bomb disposal team have arrived at Balmer’s Bog in Dundalk – the site currently being searched for the remains of missing Dundalk woman Ciara Breen.

While army personnel from Aiken Barracks were called in to assist with the search yesterday, the bomb disposal team were called upon after a suspect device was found during the search today.

The bomb squad were called after a “substance of concern” was found but this has now been dealt with.

Up to 61 members of the Defence Forces had already been helping out from this morning as the search is into its third week.

Ciara, then 17, hasn’t been seen since leaving her home in the Bachelor’s Walk area of Dundalk in February 1997.