Latest news with #AnnieMcCarrick
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
‘We we're full of hope': Aunt of Annie McCarrick says family disappointed after murder suspect released
Annie McCarrick's mother Nancy is used to waiting. She has been waiting for 32 years to find out where her only daughter's remains may be buried. When she received a 3am phone call on Thursday from the Garda team investigating her daughter's murder, it brought a new level of emotional intensity to the family's wait for answers. A man who knew Annie McCarrick had been arrested on suspicion of her murder . Fortunately, Nancy McCarrick's younger sister, Maureen Covell, was staying with her when the gardaí called. She has supported Ms McCarrick since 1993. READ MORE Annie McCarrick was nine years younger than Ms Covell, who is now 67. Both women were like best friends and spent lots of time together. From early on Thursday morning until the suspect was released without charge on Friday afternoon, an extended Irish-American family living in the Long Island area of New York had their fingers crossed. After all, this was the first arrest in a case whose narrative has changed completely since a new team of Garda investigators were appointed. 'Naturally, we were full of hope,' said Ms Covell. 'At last, it seemed there would be answers. There have been so many attempts over the decades to solve this case but there had never been any conclusive or definitive answers.' It was a case of disappointment once again for the family on Friday, as the man was released without charge . A search and excavation at a house in Clondalkin, Dublin, which was linked to him, is ongoing. Speaking to The Irish Times from her home in Long Island, Ms Covell said: 'All of us are quite disappointed as we were hopeful that some results would come of this arrest and interrogation. It is important to say that we haven't given up all hope as it seems the gardaí are getting close. We cautiously look forward to hearing if there are any findings with regards to the excavation. 'We appreciate the continued efforts of the gardaí as they follow some very recent leads.' She added that the family continues to hope for 'closure and answers along with a possible conviction to this 32-year- old nightmare'. Ms Covell said the family had been left deeply frustrated by elements of the original Garda team's approach to the investigation. 'Unlike my dear sister, who has remained so graceful and stoic throughout this ordeal, I still find it very frustrating that all the faxes our family and friends sent to the gardaí after Annie's disappearance about significant issues in her personal life were ignored at the time,' she said.
Irish Times
10 hours ago
- Irish Times
Search for remains of Annie McCarrick set to continue after main suspect released without charge
The search for the remains of Annie McCarrick at a house in Dublin was due to continue through the weekend after the man questioned on suspicion of her murder was released from Garda custody without charge on Friday afternoon. The businessman, aged in his 60s, who knew Ms McCarrick well, was interviewed for a total of 24 hours in the period since his arrest on Thursday morning when his home in the east of the country was also searched. He denies any wrongdoing in relation to the disappearance of New Yorker Ms McCarrick (26) from Sandymount, South Dublin, in March, 1993, or her murder. Annie McCarrick, who went missing in 1993. Photograph: An Garda Siochana/PA Wire '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 Garda confirmed in a statement. READ MORE On being released from Irishtown Garda station at about 3pm he was met by waiting photographers and TV camera crews before being driven away. Gardaí on Friday afternoon brought a cadaver dog into the search at the house in Clondalkin in the event the dog may respond when checking the rear of the property where excavation had taken place. The Garda search team used diggers, a consaw and a Kango hammer to excavate in an area that includes some built structures. Gardaí remove a skip at a house in Clondalkin, west Dublin. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin Gardaí bring a cadaver dog into a house being searched in connection with the murder of Annie McCarrick. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin Before the search began on Thursday morning, skips with construction waste were seen outside the house as renovation work was under way. However, The Irish Times has established that nothing connected to Ms McCarrick was found during the recent work at the house to prompt the Garda excavation. Instead, the search and excavation, and the arrest of the main suspect, were pre-planned on the part of the Garda investigation team. The house was being searched because the suspect was linked to it. . The current owners of the property, who bought it in 2011, have no connection to the murdered woman or the Garda investigation. The suspect was arrested by detectives from the Garda's Dublin south-central division's serious crime unit based at Irishtown Garda station. He knew Ms McCarrick and was at one time very close to her. [ Annie McCarrick: Cold case murder detectives must overcome poor investigations of 1990s Opens in new window ] He was flagged to gardaí as a possible suspect in the case in the immediate aftermath of the New Yorker's disappearance. Friends of Ms McCarrick were concerned about the man as she had told them she felt pressured and harassed by him and that he had struck her on one occasion. Ms McCarrick's friends outlined those concerns in fax messages to the Garda investigation team. They have always believed the information they supplied was not properly handled and was not factored into the initial inquiry in any meaningful way. However, in recent years – particularly since the case was upgraded from a missing persons inquiry to a murder investigation two years ago – the man arrested and since released became the key suspect. Gardaí are also very interested in a close associate of his and travelled abroad earlier this year to interview him. Detectives believe the two men were together on the weekend Ms McCarrick vanished. Both men were interviewed in 1993 and have been spoken to several times in the years since then. In March 1993, Ms McCarrick, from Long Island, New York, was living in rented accommodation at St Cathryn's Court, Sandymount, with two friends. They last spoke to her at the property on the morning of Friday, March 26th. Amid mounting concerns for her safety, Ms McCarrick was reported missing to gardaí that Sunday, more than 48 hours after her last confirmed sighting.
Dublin Live
20 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
21 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 Times
21 hours ago
- Irish Times
Annie McCarrick: Cold case murder detectives must overcome poor investigations of 1990s
When the man questioned about the murder of Annie McCarrick in 1993 was finally released without charge on Friday afternoon , he stepped into the Dublin sunshine to a waiting pack of photographers and TV crews, and quickly disappeared. It is now just over 32 years since the killing of the New Yorker. The initial Garda investigation was poor. It looked in the wrong places. Against that backdrop, it is a crime that will be very hard to solve. When suspects arrested on suspicion of serious crimes are released without charge, it is often confirmed in a media statement from Garda Headquarters. In most instances it references a file being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). [ Annie McCarrick: Gardaí arrest chief suspect, search property after new information emerges Opens in new window ] On Friday, there was no reference to any such file being sent for a decision around charging the McCarrick murder suspect with any offence. He has not been publicly identified. It simply adds to the sense that so much time has passed since Ms McCarrick vanished that whoever killed her will never be brought to justice. READ MORE In 1998, amid growing concern at a number of cases involving women vanishing in the east of the country, the Garda set up Operation Trace, aimed at determining if any of the cases were linked and whether a serial killer was involved. It eventually concluded the cases were not connected. Far from a serial killer at work, or multiple strangers preying on all of the women, a much more familiar narrative has since emerged. It is now strongly suspected that most of the women were killed by a man known to them; the enduring, depressing, feature of femicide. Ms McCarrick, who vanished on Friday, March 26th, 1993, from Sandymount, south Dublin, where she lived, was one of the women included in Operation Trace. Gardaí now suspect she was killed by a man known to her and who she had once been very close to. Fiona Pender, who was last seen, aged 25, on August 23rd, 1996. Josephine 'Jo Jo' Dullard, who went missing in 1995 The other cases included in Operation Trace were: Fiona Sinnott, Josephine Dullard , Deirdre Jacob , Ciara Breen and Fiona Pender . Gardaí suspect Ms Sinnott, Ms Pender, Ms McCarrick and Ms Breen were all murdered by men known to them and their bodies disposed of to conceal the crimes in an era before the proliferation of the CCTV systems and mobile phones that now often unmask killers. In the cases of Ms Dullard and Ms Jacob, it is believed they were abducted and killed in sexually motivated opportunistic attacks, which are highly unusual. A file was sent to the DPP in 2021 in relation to the killing of Ms Jacob, who went missing close to her home in Newbridge, Co Kildare, in July, 1998. However, no charges were directed against the suspect, the convicted rapist Larry Murphy. The case was a reminder, if one were needed, that slow or botched police work when the women vanished is now very hard to overcome. Because the bodies of the victims were not found, they were treated as missing persons cases and not given the urgency, or resources, of a murder inquiry. And that simply handed an advantage to the killers. Forensic and other physical evidence was lost, while witnesses were not interviewed when their recall was freshest. However, renewed investigations have sought to solve the crimes decades later. In three of the six cases, arrests or searches have occurred since late last year, including this week's moves in the McCarrick investigation. Last month, two sites in Co Offaly and Co Laois were excavated by gardaí looking for the remains of Ms Pender . She was aged 26 years and was seven-months pregnant when she vanished from her home in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in 1996. Nothing was found in the recent searches and the suspected killer is a man who was close to her. Last November a man was arrested, and later released without charge, in connection with the disappearance and murder of Kilkenny woman Josephine 'Jo Jo' Dullard (21). She vanished in Moone, Co Kildare, in 1995. Lands were also excavated last November in the Kildare-Wicklow area, though neither her remains nor any other evidence was found. Garda sources said the investigations would continue. And in the case of Ms McCarrick, the ongoing search in Clondalkin this weekend keeps alive a hope that a breakthrough could be made. However, the combination of poor initial investigations, and now the passage of decades since these women were killed, has proven an, as yet, insurmountable challenge for today's detectives.
