Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Co. Laois woman Aoife Phelan have discovered a body.

The remains were found behind a house outside Portlaoise this afternoon.

A 24-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of her murder was last night released without charge.

The discovery of the body which has yet to be formally identified was made at around midday.

House search

The find was made at the rear of a house on the Timahoe Road outside Portlaoise which Gardai had previously been examining as part of the investigation into the disappearance of the childminder.

The focus of the searach had moved to part of the River Barrow near Monasterevin in Co. Kildare.

The scene around the house has been sealed off and a team from the Garda Technical Bureau has arrived to carry out forensic tests.

30-year-old Aoife has been missing since the evening of Thursday October 25th when she was last seen leaving a friend"s house in Collier"s View in Portlaoise.