A page-turning rural thriller on the search for truth after daughter's death at Blarney Castle
We are in Blarney in Co Cork and the body of a 22-year-old American woman, Jessie De Marco, has been found at the foot of the Wishing Steps in the grounds of Blarney Castle. She has recently travelled from her home in Boston in search of her father. Her real father, that is. All her life she thought that her mother's now long-gone husband was her biological dad, but has only just discovered that is not true.
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Dublin Live
6 hours ago
- Dublin Live
Millionaire arrested over Annie McCarrick murder released without charge
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A millionaire businessman who was arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick in March 1993 has been released without charge. The man, in his 60s, was arrested on Thursday June 12 and was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Sources told The Irish Mirror that the man, who is now a respectable businessman and owns several properties with combined values of more than €1 million, has long been a suspect in the case of American student Annie McCarrick, who disappeared from south Dublin in March 1993. It was the first arrest in the long running probe into her disappearance – and comes two years after the case was upgraded from a missing person's case to a full blown murder inquiry. Sources have also told us that the man had an infatuation with Ms McCarrick. He has been interviewed by gardai at least twice. But that was as a witness – and now he is being questioned as a murder suspect. Officers from Irishtown Garda Station in south central Dublin – where the Annie McCarrick investigation is based – early yesterday morning sealed off a house in Clondalkin in south west Dublin that they suspect may be connected to the American woman's murder. (Image: A gardai spokesperson said on Friday afternoon: "Gardaí continue to investigate the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick in March 1993. "The male aged in his 60s who was arrested on the morning of 12th June, 2025 and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 has been released without charge. "The searches in relation to this investigation remain ongoing and are being supported by a cadaver dog from an external agency. "Searches will continue over the weekend." Officers began using specialist search equipment at the house yesterday afternoon – but gardai were keen to stress that the current occupants of the property were not connected in any way with Ms McCarrick – or the investigation. "The current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance," gardai said in a statement. We have also established that gardai have spent much of the last two years interviewing dozens of people who worked with Ms McCarrick – or knew her personally. They have been building a case against the suspect – and even went to France to interview a key associate. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Annie McCarrick remains dig continues as murder probe cops examine phones & laptops for evidence after suspect released
THE suspect in Annie McCarrick's murder walked from garda custody flanked by his solicitor today - after a cadaver dog was drafted into the site gardai are digging up as they search for her body. The Irish Sun can reveal that although the 62-year-old was released without charge today , cops are examining a number of old devices, phones and laptops, from his Co Advertisement 4 The search is expected to continue over the weekend Credit: 4 A cadaver dog was brought in to assist the gardai's search for her body Credit: 4 Tragic Annie McCarrick has been missing for over 30 years Credit: Copyright remains with handout provider The businessman became the first ever person to be arrested in relation to the missing American when detectives sensationally swooped on his home on Thursday morning before 8am. We have learned that he made no admissions, is understood to have denied Specialist investigators quizzed him over more than five separate alibis which the They are also investigating claims that the man - who was known to Annie - assaulted her while he was drunk in an incident prior to her vanishing. Advertisement READ MORE ON ANNIE MCCARRICK He walked out of Irishtown Garda Station in Almost 17 kilometres away in Clondalkin, a cadaver dog - used to pick up and track the scent of human remains - was drafted into a property on the second day of the search. The house has been renovated significantly over the years and its current occupiers have no connection with the case whatsoever. The canine, which was loaned to the force by the Advertisement Most read in Irish News Latest Work at the site today involved a mini digger, a concrete saw, a kango hammer and other equipment. The machinery is being used in the small front driveway and in the 100ft rear back garden. Gardai 'committed to uncovering the truth' of Annie McCarrick's murder and disappearance The search - being carried out in a bid to get answers for Annie's heartbroken relatives to an end - will continue over the weekend. It's understood that no file to the Director of Public Prosecutions is imminent on the arrested suspect, who will only be re-arrested if new information comes to light on his alleged involvement in Annie's disappearance in March 1993. Advertisement 'PERSON OF INTEREST' The man was classified as a 'person of interest' in the early years of the probe. Following the re-classification of the case two years ago, when it was upgraded to Gardai spoke to the second man overseas before arresting the suspect this week. The seizure of Advertisement The upgrade of the case also saw new information come to light from the public regarding the house in Clondalkin, which is now being dug up. 'REMAINS A SUSPECT' A source told 'There are seized items which are being looked at while other areas of investigation into him, his alibis and other matters are continuing. 'This is all off the back of fresh information gardai have got over recent years which was then coupled with reviewing what evidence had already been gathered. A vast amount of work has gone in. Advertisement 'The search of the house remains a very much live operation.' The suspect is married, has children and runs a business. Sources say he has lived a 'comfortable' life over the years. PROBE PLANS The major operation is being led by an investigation team from the DMR South Central Division, Serious Crime Unit based at Irishtown Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer. Their ongoing work will now involve speaking to others again who they believe may have not told crucial details when they previously interacted with gardai. Advertisement Originally from the Speaking today, Annie's family's US 'VERY OPTIMISTIC' He said: 'I'm a very optimistic lawyer. I hope that one day it will have been solved and over the years I've gone to Ireland, I've got some friends there. 'I've made it my business to be interviewed by the garda, by the local press to try to keep the embers burning and I'm delighted to know that there's been an arrest, although there is no conviction at this point, there's only an arrest. Advertisement 'So let's see what the next developments will be.' Gardai said that they will continue to keep the family of Annie fully updated in relation to the investigation and have been fully apprised of the developments. They urged anyone with information to come forward, promising it will be treated with the 'strictest confidence.' A spokesman said: 'The investigation team can be contacted at Irishtown Garda Station on 01 666 9600 or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111.' Advertisement 4 McCarrick's family lawyer remains 'optimistic' that the case will be solved
Irish Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Millionaire businessman arrested over Annie McCarrick murder walks free
A millionaire businessman who was arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick in March 1993 has been released without charge. The man, in his 60s, was arrested on Thursday June 12 and was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Sources told The Irish Mirror that the man, who is now a respectable businessman and owns several properties with combined values of more than €1 million, has long been a suspect in the case of American student Annie McCarrick, who disappeared from south Dublin in March 1993. It was the first arrest in the long running probe into her disappearance – and comes two years after the case was upgraded from a missing person's case to a full blown murder inquiry. Sources have also told us that the man had an infatuation with Ms McCarrick. He has been interviewed by gardai at least twice. But that was as a witness – and now he is being questioned as a murder suspect. Officers from Irishtown Garda Station in south central Dublin – where the Annie McCarrick investigation is based – early yesterday morning sealed off a house in Clondalkin in south west Dublin that they suspect may be connected to the American woman's murder. A gardai spokesperson said on Friday afternoon: "Gardaí continue to investigate the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick in March 1993. "The male aged in his 60s who was arrested on the morning of 12th June, 2025 and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 has been released without charge. "The searches in relation to this investigation remain ongoing and are being supported by a cadaver dog from an external agency. "Searches will continue over the weekend." Officers began using specialist search equipment at the house yesterday afternoon – but gardai were keen to stress that the current occupants of the property were not connected in any way with Ms McCarrick – or the investigation. 'The current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance,' gardai said in a statement. We have also established that gardai have spent much of the last two years interviewing dozens of people who worked with Ms McCarrick – or knew her personally. They have been building a case against the suspect – and even went to France to interview a key associate.
