Fresh Sophie Toscan murder breakthrough hopes as US experts ‘praying’ DNA tests on bloodstains will solve killer mystery.

Both local Gardai and the cold case unit have been working on the case since 2022

It is understood Mr Bradley’s team carried out extensive new testing with members of Forensic Science Ireland after travelling from its headquarters in Utah to Ireland earlier this month. Their new M-Vac system works using wet vacuum principles to release and capture cells.

A substance is sprayed directly onto the surface while vacuum pressure is simultaneously applied around the pattern, to collect the buffer and suspended particles in a collection bottle.

Before travelling over to Dublin, Mr Bradley said: “Praying for a fantastic outcome from this trip. Gardai here have been well-aware in recent times of the value of the M-Vac equipment used in America to solve decades-old crime cases.

They include the killing of teenager Krystal Beslanowitch in Utah 28 years ago which was similar in detail to that of the savage and brutal murder of Sophie in 1996.