Man (60s) arrested on suspicion of murder of Annie McCarrick 24 years ago ‘was known to her'
Ms McCarrick, originally from New York, disappeared without a trace on that dayAt the site of this morning's search in Clondalkin, gardaí moved in early to place metal hoardings around the front garden of the house
Robin Schiller, Conor Feehan and Denise Calnan
A man who was known to US woman Annie McCarrick has been arrested in Dublin on suspicion of her murder 24 years ago.
Sources said that the suspect has led 'a normal life' in the three decades since the young woman went missing on March 26, 1993.
The suspect was arrested at his home yesterday morning and was questioned on suspicion of her murder.
A separate home in Clondalkin previously linked to the suspect, where his parents had lived, is also being examined.
The man, aged in his 60s, was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a garda station in Dublin.
A spokesperson said 'elements of that house and garden' would be searched and subject to both technical and forensic examinations.
They stress that the current residents of this home are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance.
Ms McCarrick disappeared without trace on March 26, 1993, with the last confirmed sighting of her in Sandymount in Dublin.
She was 26 years old at the time of her disappearance.
She was an only child and originally from New York in the US.
Ms McCarrick completed her third-level studies at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, and at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, before returning to New York in 1991, where she completed her studies at Stony Brook University.
She moved to Ireland to live permanently in January 1993 and settled into rental accommodation at St Cathryn's Court in Sandymount with two other tenants.
The young woman had spoken to both her flatmates before they left separately to travel home for the weekend.
Ms McCarrick invited friends to her apartment for dinner the following day — Saturday, March 27.
She was also making plans for her mother Nancy's visit to Ireland on March 30.
On the Sunday of that weekend, friends of Annie became concerned for her welfare. She was not at home on the Saturday when they called for dinner as invited. She had not turned up for work on the Saturday or on Sunday morning.
A friend called to her apartment on the evening of Sunday, March 28, and spoke to Annie's two flatmates. Groceries Annie had bought on the morning of Friday, March 26, in Quinnsworth on Sandymount Road had been left unpacked in shopping bags.
A receipt in the bags confirmed the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 at 11.02am. This is the last confirmed activity of Annie McCarrick.
Ms McCarrick was reported missing by a friend at Irishtown Garda Station on the evening of Sunday, March 28.
This missing person report was confirmed by her mother Nancy when she arrived in Dublin on Tuesday, March 30.
The search for Annie McCarrick has continued since.
At the site of the search, on Monastery Walk in Clondalkin, gardaí moved in early to place metal hoardings around the front garden of a house and parked a mini digger in the front garden.
Other equipment including a concrete saw were also brought to the house.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau arrived at the scene at 10am, and a number of detectives could be seen going into and out of the property.
News Catch Up - Thursday 12th June
Neighbours said they were surprised and curious to see if the search would yield anything of evidential value that could progress the case.
Because Ms McCarrick disappeared more than 30 years ago, many of the current residents of Monastery Walk were not living in the estate at the time.
'I was walking the dog this morning and I could see the hoarding being put up at the house, and I thought maybe the owners were getting building work done, but then I could see a few guys in suits arriving and talking with the men putting up the hoarding, and then garda vans and vehicles started to arrive,' said one neighbour.
'We didn't know what was happening but then we started to see the news reports. I hope they find something that would bring some answers to her family,' he added.
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