Gardaí are continuing to search an area of bogland in Co Louth today for missing 17-year-old Ciara Breen.

She was last seen by her mother Bernadette in the early hours of February 13th 1997.

The pair had gone to bed shortly after midnight, but when Mrs Breen got up to use the bathroom in the night she noticed that her daughter was not in her room.

Mrs Breen told gardaí that Ciara had not taken any clothes or money with her, and believed she went to meet someone.

She never saw her daughter again.

It is understood new information came to the gardaí in recent weeks, prompting a fresh search.

Gardaí are searching a specific area of a bog outside the town, after making a fresh appeal for information on the disappearance in November of last year.

Alan Bailey is a retired detective sergeant, and former head of the Garda Cold Case Unit.

He told Newstalk Breakfast he believes Ciara went to meet an older man.