A MAN is due to appear at a special sitting of Athlone District Court this evening in connection with the murder of Marie Greene, after human remains were discovered in an area of bogland near the Co Westmeath town.

The body was moved to Midlands Regional Hospital in Tullamore this afternoon for a post-mortem examination. The 37-year-old woman, of St Mel’s Terrace in Athlone, had been missing for over week.

Yesterday Gardaí arrested a 63-year-old man on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody today.

Gardaí have also said that searches have taken place on a section of bog on the Mullingar road, outside Athlone. A house in the Monksland area of the town remains sealed off.

Greene was last seen in the Athlone area on 13 February.

She is said to have been wearing blue jeans, white runners and a navy zipped-up fleece. She is described as 5′ 5” in height, slim build, with a fair complexion and medium-length brown hair which is normally tied back in a pony tail.

RTÉ reports that the state pathologist has been contacted for an examination of the remains found today, and some of Marie’s family members have been asked to provide blood samples to facilitate DNA testing.

Additional reporting by Gavan Reilly