Millionaire businessman arrested over murder of student who disappeared 32 years ago
"This arrest is not a shot in the dark. It came about after the investigation team received new information."
A millionaire businessman has been arrested and questioned over the murder of an American student who went missing in Dublin over 32 years ago.
Gardai were acting on new information they received in the case of Annie McCarrick, who disappeared in March 1993. Officers also searched a house in the city in connection with the arrest on Thursday, June 12.
Sources said the man is a respectable businessman and has a property portfolio with combined values of over £850,000. He is said to have been a long-time suspect in the case and has been interviewed at least twice as a witness, but is the first arrest in the investigation.
It comes two years after the case was upgraded from a missing persons case to a full murder inquiry. Sources added the man, now in his 60s, was infatuated with Annie, reports Dublin Live.
Officers from Irishtown Garda Station in south central Dublin, the base for the investigation, cordoned off a house in the Clondalkin area of the city on Thursday, which is suspected to be linked to her murder.
They used specialised search equipment at the property, but assured its current occupants had no connections to their investigation. A statement read: 'The current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance.'
The man, who was known to Annie, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday morning and questioned last night. He can be held for 24 hours before being charged or released, but this does not cover mandatory rest periods - meaning it is likely the time will run out on Friday afternoon or evening.
Sources said last night gardai decided to make the arrest after a thorough review of the case, which has seen detectives interview dozens of people.
They added no immediate breakthrough was expected, but investigators were hopeful. One said last night: 'This arrest is not a shot in the dark. It came about after the investigation team received new information. After evaluating that information, the decision was taken to make the arrest and carry out the search.'
Much of the two years since the case was upgraded to a murder investigation has been spent interviewing people who worked with, or personally knew, Annie. They have been building a case against the man, even going to France to interview a key associate.
The statement from the force announcing the latest development said: 'Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Annie McCarrick in March 1993 have this morning arrested a male on suspicion of her murder.
'The male aged in his 60' is detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in Dublin. Investigating Gardaí are today commencing a search operation at a residence in Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
'Elements of that house and garden will be searched and subject of both technical and forensic examinations. The current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance.'
It also said local officers were being assisted by detectives from the Garda Cold Case Unit and National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, adding: 'The arrest and search 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 and with the assistance of the Serious Crime Review Team, Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
'The search is being carried out by the DMR South Central divisional search team supported by the Garda National Technical Bureau. This search operation has the support of other state and external expertise if required. An Garda Síochána has and will continue to keep the family of Annie McCarrick fully updated in relation to this investigation. They have been fully appraised of today's developments.'
Officers also urged any witnesses to come forward - even if they had been withholding information for years: 'An Garda Síochána appeal to anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant that they might believe it to be, to contact the investigation team.
'Gardaí also appeal to anyone that may have previously come forward but who felt that they could not provide Gardaí with all of the relevant information they had in relation to this matter, to please make contact with An Garda Síochána again. With the passage of time they may now be in a position to speak further with the investigation team.
'Any information will be welcomed by the investigation team, and will be treated in the strictest confidence. 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.'
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It is understood gardai first became aware of the suspect just after one of the last sightings of Annie, in a cafe in Sandymount, Dublin, on March 26, 1993. Sources say he could account for his whereabouts around that time, but his alibi is being questioned.
The investigation focused on Enniskerry, in rural south County Dublin, after she was allegedly seen there on the day of her disappearance, as well as at Johnnie Fox's pub in nearby Glencullen. However, neither sighting was confirmed and officers now doubt she was ever in the area.
She was picked up on CCTV in a bank in Sandymount, and detectives now believe answers could be found in the same area.
Author Marisa Mackle, who worked with Annie in a restaurant and never believed she had gone to the pub in Glencullen, said of the arrest: 'I do feel vindicated, but it is a hollow vindication. I never wanted to be proven right.
'It is a good day. But I really hope it ends in something rather than getting the family's hopes up.'
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