Forensic archaeologists and geophysicists spent yesterday marking 'hot spots' along the border area as the search for the remains of a Troubles IRA victim continues.

However, by nightfall on Monday, the operation to find another one of the 'disappeared' ended without success.

The search for 24-year-old Gerry Evans, from Crossmaglen - who was last seen hitching a lift in Co Monaghan in March 1979 – has been revived along the Louth-Armagh border.

Although no-one has admitted responsibility for his death, it had been claimed he was shot by the IRA as a suspected informer, with a local newspaper being recently contacted by an IRA man who was involved in the killing to bring forward fresh information.

As a result, preparation of the site at a peat bog has been going on for months with about two miles of drains cut or cleared.

Signs of disturbance have been pinpointed but one expert told the BBC yesterday that bogs were "just about one of the most difficult terrains" in which to do this work.

The Independent Commission for the Recovery of Victims' Remains has stressed that this is the continuation of a long process and is likely to take some time.

Meanwhile, the Presumption of Death Act has been revised to allow the High Court to declare a missing person as "presumed dead".

This will now allow the families to receive a certificate of presumed death in order to settle the affairs of their loved ones with applications made if there is evidence the person is likely to have died or if they have not been seen alive for at least seven years.

Previously, the IRA admitted that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the 'disappeared', but has not admitted its role in the other murders.

Just five of these bodies have so far been found while, last month, the Commission said it was now investigating the 1973 disappearance of west Belfast man Peter Wilson, reported to have been abducted and murdered by the IRA, making the total 'disappeared' to 14 - all but one of them by the IRA.

(BMCC/GK)