Information led them to a quarry away from Shelmalier Commons, Co Wexford, where the man’s body was discovered early yesterday.

Mr Ring, who has been missing since October 15, is originally from the Oylegate area but is believed to have been based in Wexford town in recent times.

Sources say police are investigating whether he was killed over a dispute over a debt.

Mr Ring is believed to have suffered horrific injuries and may not have been killed where his body was found.

A 40-year-old man in custody is considered the prime suspect in the case, while a 30-year-old woman is suspected of having information about the case.

Neither are originally from Co Wexford, but have connections there.

Gardai announced a missing person’s appeal on October 18 and renewed the appeal on Saturday before it was withdrawn yesterday.

“This was believed to be a homicide case for some time. The victim was not well known to the police for his involvement in crime,” said a source.

Since Saturday afternoon, there has been a heavy garda presence at the quarry and walking tracks on Forth Mountain, Shelmalier Commons, with the garda helicopter playing a role before Mr Ring’s body was found.

Gardai quickly blocked the access routes to and from the quarry and sealed off the crime scene. Officers combed the quiet footpaths, which were usually busy with families on Sunday, while a garda dive team was reportedly tasked with carrying out a search of the lake there.

The quarry and surrounding tracks are likely to remain closed for a number of days as a full forensic examination of the scene is carried out, police said.

The body remains at the scene, which is currently being preserved. The Garda National Technical Bureau has been notified and a technical examination of the scene is taking place.

A Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the investigation and an incident room has been set up at Wexford garda station.