Gardai are to formally launch a double murder investigation following the discovery of the bodies of two men.

Their remains were found on an island on Lough Sheelin on the Meath-Cavan border as part of an investigation into the disappearance of two Dublin men.

Anthony Keegan (33) and Eoin O'Connor (32) were last seen in Cavan on April 22nd.

The discovery of the bodies of two men was made at around 4:30pm yesterday afternoon.

As part of the investigation gardai focused their search operation on Inchicup island on Lough Sheelin on foot of information received from local people.

The area remains sealed off this afternoon as a team from the Garda Technical Bureau carries out a forensic examination.

The two bodies are being taken to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan where the State Pathologist Dr. Marie Cassidy will conduct post mortems to determine how the men died.

Gardai say the results will determine the next step in their investigation.

It is believed they were in the area to collect a drug debt.

The car they were using was found abandoned in a carpark at Lough Owel outside Mullingar in Co. Westmeath shortly after their disappearance. Gardai are appealing to anyone with informtion on the case to contact them.

In particular the investigating officers are looking to speak with people from the fishing and boating community on Lough Sheelin or to anyone who was out on the lake between Tuesday April 22nd and Monday May 26th.

Crime correspondent with the Irish Daily Mirror, Cathal McMahon, says there has been an obvious attempt made to hide the bodies.