President Michael D Higgins has offered his condolences to the family of Nora Quoirin after her body was found in Malaysia.
The schoolgirl, who had special needs, disappeared on August 4 from an eco-resort in Dusun where she was staying with her parents and two siblings.
Earlier today a body was found by a member of the search and rescue team as the hunt entered its tenth day in the jungle.
Negri Sembilan police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop has confirmed the body found is that of the missing Irish teenager.
Speaking after the heartbreaking discovery, President Higgins said: "Sabina and I offer our deepest condolences to Nóra’s parents, Meabh and Sebastien, to Nóra’s siblings and to her extended family.
"On behalf of the people of Ireland, I would also like to express my gratitude for the assistance given by the Malaysian authorities in the search for Nóra, for the volunteers who answered the call to join the search and for all those throughout Malaysia, Ireland, Britain and France who offered what support they could.
"Our thoughts and prayers are now with Nóra’s family, at this most difficult time.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.”
A post-mortem will be carried out tomorrow morning by a senior pathologist from Kuala Lumpur.
The body was earlier transported to hospital by helicopter, where Nora's parents Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin headed to identify it, a press conference heard.
Malaysia’s deputy police chief Mazlan Mansor earlier told a press conference: "The body resembles Nora but it is yet to be confirmed by the family.
"The body was moved by helicopter to hospital.
"We have informed the family of the news. They are now going to the mortuary to identify the body."
The police chief later added: "We are quite, very, certain but are waiting for the family to visit the hospital."
Mr Mansor told reporters the body had been found beside a small stream about 2.5 kilometres from the resort.
He said the body "was not in any clothings".
Police have refused to rule out 'foul play'.
Malaysian police confirmed on Tuesday that rescuers had found the body of a Caucasian female in the forest surrounding the nature resort where Nora was reported missing.
The Lucie Blackman Trust, which is handling media for the Quoirin family, confirmed that a body had been found in the search for the teenager.
"At this time we cannot confirm it is Nora," the charity said in a statement earlier.
"However, it sadly seems likely.
"Investigations are underway to confirm identity and cause of death."
Tanaiste Simon Coveney: "Irish + French embassies in Malaysia working together to provide every assistance to the Quoirin family.
"Irish embassy is in touch with Malaysian authorities on today's discovery of a body.
"At this harrowing time all of our thoughts + prayers are with the family."
The teenager's parents, Meabh and Sebastien Quoirin, a French-Irish couple who have lived in London for 20 years, thanked those looking for her as fundraising pages set up by Nora's aunt and uncle collected more than £100,000 from well-wishers.
Nora's family had said they believe the teen, who was born with the brain defect holoprosencephaly, was abducted from their cottage at the resort they were staying at, about an hour south of Kuala Lumpur.
But Malaysian officials have said there was "no proof" she was kidnapped, though they were not ruling out any possibilities.
Police believe she wandered off and got lost in the jungle.
Appearing before cameras on Monday, a visibly emotional Ms Quoirin said: "Nora is our first child.
"She has been vulnerable since the day she was born.
"She is so precious to us and our hearts are breaking."
