It is claimed new revelations linking a convicted sex offender to the disappearance of a teenager may encourage more victims to come forward.

13-year-old Philip Cairns went missing from Rathfarnham in Dublin nearly 30 years ago.

A former victim has contacted Gardaí to allege convicted pedophile Eamon Cooke is responsible for his death.

Cooke passed away last week and it is understood Gardaí spoke with him before he died in palliative care.

Alan Bailey, a retired Detective and former head of Garda Cold Case Unit, says the development may lead to more breaks in investigations.

He said: “What it quite possibly could mean is other victims coming forward, people who stayed silent and tried to bury their pain, bury their hurt for years and years.

“Maybe now this will be the catalyst that will convince them to come forward and make their complaint.”