Body found beside golf course in search for missing Jastine (24)

A body has been found in the search for missing 24-year-old Jastine Valdez from Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

Dozens of Gardai and Army troops were scouring several acres of ground all morning and afternoon.

A short time ago, investigators discovered remains of a female woman next to Pucks Castle golf course, not far from where a purse believed to belong to Jasmine was discovered earlier today.

The Garda helicopter and the Civil Defence were also involved in the search.

A man Gardaí had been searching for in connection with the incident, Mark Hennessy (40), was shot dead by a Garda in a south Dublin business park last night.

The married father-of-two who was driving a Nissan SUV linked to the abduction, is from Woodbrook Estate, Boghall Road in Bray.

It's understood the vehicle's in-car computer was used to trace its movements over the past 48 hours and specific locations were searched today.

A Garda statement said: "Gardai investigating the disappearance of 24-year-old Jastine Valdez have discovered the body of a female in the Pucks Castle area.

"The body has not been formally identified.

"Gardai wish to appeal for privacy for the Valdez family at this time.

"Gardaí wish to thank the public, the media, the Defence Forces and Civil Defence for their assistance in this investigation."

The Irish Times reports that Hennessy was due in court soon charged with driving while drunk, crashing into other vehicles and leaving the scene.

He had previous convictions 20 years ago for being drunk and possessing drugs.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing Ms Valdez being bundled into a dark Nissan Qashqai on the R760 Kilcroney Road near her home in Enniskerry at 6.15pm on Saturday evening.

The same car was seen by a member of the public at 8pm last night in the Cherrywood Business Park in Dublin.

Gardaí were called but the man was armed with a knife and a garda fired a number of shots, fatally injuring the 40-year-old driver.

The car was searched but Ms Valdez was not in it.

Hennessy is not believed to have known the student and Garda are investigating if there was a sexual motive in the crime.

Hennessy's movements may be also be probed in the context of other unsolved crimes in south Dublin and Co Wicklow.

The Garda Ombudsman Commission is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting in Cherrywood Business Park.