Latest news with #murderInquiry
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Trevor Deely, Philip Cairns and other missing-person cases will not be upgraded to murder
An Garda Síochána has decided not to upgrade any further unsolved missing persons cases to murder inquiries following the conclusion of a review that led to those of Fiona Pender and Elizabeth Clarke being revisited. This means the force has, for now, ruled out committing more resources in several other cases where foul play is suspected including those of Philip Cairns and Trevor Deely , who vanished in Dublin in 1986 and 2000 respectively. The news comes as a search for the remains of Annie McCarrick , whose case was in 2023 upgraded to a murder inquiry 30 years after her disappearance, continued at a house in Clondalkin, Dublin. [ 'We were full of hope': Aunt of Annie McCarrick says family disappointed after murder suspect released Opens in new window ] The decision to reclassify the cases of Ms Pender (25), who was seven months pregnant when she vanished from her home in Co Offaly in 1996, and that of Ms Clarke (24), who was last seen in Co Meath in 2013, resulted in extensive search and excavation operations taking place. These were carried out in Laois/Offaly last month in Ms Pender's case and in Co Meath last February in Ms Clarke's. READ MORE In response to queries, Garda headquarters confirmed a review of a large number of missing persons cases was completed last year. 'There were no other missing persons investigations at the time that required upgrading to homicide/murder' investigations, it said. 'The status of such missing person investigations is kept under regular review and can be upgraded if new information and/or evidence comes to light that justifies its upgrading.' In the McCarrick inquiry, the search at the Clondalkin property for the New York woman's remains, aided by a cadaver dog, has been ongoing since last Thursday. A businessman aged in his 60s was arrested last Thursday and released without charge on Friday. That man, the only person ever arrested as part of the 32-year-old investigation, knew Ms McCarrick (26) when she lived in Dublin and was close to her at one time. Gardaí arrested him and commenced the search after receiving new information from a witness that related to the man, who is now the chief suspect. The family currently living at the Clondalkin property bought the house about 15 years ago and have no connection whatsoever to Ms McCarrick or the Garda investigation. However, the house was previously linked to the chief suspect and Ms McCarrick is believed to have stayed there.
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Senior judge to chair inquiry into murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane
A senior judge has been appointed to chair an independent inquiry into the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane. Mr Finucane (39) was shot dead at his family home in north Belfast in 1989 by the Ulster Defence Association in an attack found by a series of probes to have involved collusion with the British state. His widow and the couple's three children have been campaigning for decades for a public inquiry to establish the extent of security force involvement. Last year Secretary of State Hilary Benn announced the UK Government would establish an independent inquiry into the circumstances of Mr Finucane's death. READ MORE It is to be established under the Inquiries Act 2005, with full powers, including the power to compel the production of documents and to summon witnesses to give evidence on oath. On Friday morning, Mr Benn announced he has appointed Gary Hickinbottom as chairman of the Patrick Finucane Inquiry. Sir Gary is the current president of the Welsh Tribunals and is a retired Court of Appeal Judge, who undertook the statutory inquiry into corruption and governance in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Benn has also appointed the former police ombudsman for Northern Ireland Nuala O'Loan as well as Francesca Del Mese as assessors to the inquiry. The next step in the process involves Mr Benn consulting with Mr Hickinbottom on the proposed terms of reference for the inquiry. Mr Benn said he is confident the inquiry will provide answers to Mr Finucane's family. 'The murder of Mr Finucane was a barbarous and heinous crime, and one which continues to highlight the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland,' he said. Mr Hickinbottom said:'At the heart of this case lies a family who lost their husband and father in horrific circumstances, and I look forward to meeting the Finucane family in Belfast as soon as possible.' —PA
BBC News
12-06-2025
- BBC News
Annie McCarrick: Man arrested on suspicion of US woman's murder
A man in his 60s has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of an American woman in the Republic of Ireland more than 30 years McCarrick, who was 26 at the time, had been living in Dublin when she went missing on 26 March case was treated as a missing persons inquiry for more than 30 years until it was upgraded by gardaí (Irish police) to a murder inquiry in man was arrested on suspicion of Ms McCarrick's murder on Thursday morning and a search operation is also underway at a house in the Clondalkin area of Dublin. Gardaí have said that part of the house and garden will be searched and forensic examinations carried search operation will be supported by other agencies, if required, according to Gardaí.It is being directed by a senior investigating officer, with the assistance of the serious crime review team from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The family of Annie McCarrick are being kept fully updated on the latest developments in the are also appealing to anyone who may have previously come forward, but who felt they could not provide all the relevant information they had at the time, to contact them again. With the passage of time, according to a spokesperson, these individuals may now be willing to speak again with the investigation team. Groceries had been left unpacked Annie McCarrick was the only child of her father, John, who is deceased, and her mother, Nancy, and was originally from New a teenager, she visited Ireland on a school parents had previously described how she fell in love with Ireland and the way of life and how, upon her return to New York, she indicated her intention to return to Ireland to the late 1980s, she completed her third level studies at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra in Dublin and at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, before returning to New York in 1991 to complete her studies at Stoney Brook January 1993, she moved to Ireland to live permanently and settled into rental accommodation at Sandymount in Dublin with two other March, Annie spoke to both her flatmates before they left separately to travel home for the also made arrangements with friends, inviting them to her apartment for dinner the following day, 27 March was also said to be excited and making plans for her mother Nancy's impending visit to Ireland the following 28 March 1993, friends of Annie McCarrick became concerned for her welfare after she was not at home when they called for the prearranged had been left unpacked in shopping bags and a receipt in the shopping bags was the last confirmed activity of Annie McCarrick.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Mt Pleasant murder victim deserves proper inquiry
The government's chief victims adviser believes details released today about the death of Francis Phelps, or Faye as she was known, and her murder reinforce the need for a proper inquiry. She is still waiting for a response from the government but said there are no winners in this case. Ruth Money spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
BBC News
07-06-2025
- BBC News
Michael Gaine: Murdered farmer was 'kind, strong and loving'
Mourners attending the funeral Mass of a County Kerry farmer, whose death is the subject of a murder inquiry, have heard he was a kind, strong man, who loved people, farming and Gaine, 56, had been missing for more than eight weeks when his remains were found in May on his farm, near was initially treated as a missing persons case before it was upgraded to a Saturday the congregation was told by parish priest Fr George Hayes that the funeral was about recovering his dignity, as reported by Irish broadcaster RTÉ. 'Proud Kerry man' "There were many questions but sometimes in life there were no answers," said Fr George said that the "dignity of Michael's life, and not the manner of Michael's death, that will abide in our hearts".Michael was someone who "loved much and was much loved," Fr Hayes a tribute to his cousin, Eoghan Clarke, who spoke on behalf of the family said Mr Gaine was known for his "incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle".He said Mr Gaine's "incredible" work ethic had been instilled in him by his said he and his wife Janice had a "truly beautiful relationship" and that they loved to be together, "from simple trips to the cinema in Killarney, visits to new restaurants, walks in the National Park, and adventurous holidays abroad". "Janice and Michael's sisters will know better than anyone that Michael had a soft, caring side. In Janice's own words, Michael was a true man. He was soft and loving, caring and affectionate, kind and considerate," said."He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong. He was strong mentally and, as anyone who ever tried to follow him up the mountain in wellies will know, he was strong physically too".Mourners heard Mr Gaine was a keen rally the past week his rallying friends had fixed up the Ford Escort Mark II he used to race and it was used to transport his ashes. Mr Gaine, a sheep and cattle farmer, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on 21 was last seen in the County Kerry town the previous lived in the remote Carrig East area, close to the Molls Gap beauty spot, along the renowned Ring of to RTÉ, in-depth investigations by gardaí ruled out "innocent" explanations, such as a medical event, an accident, or that he left the area voluntarily. A missing person's investigation operates on the basis of consent, but when gardaí announced the re-classification of their investigation, it meant the range of options in front of the investigation team significantly could then get search warrants, clear areas of interest and seize and examine certain items like phones and tissue found in fields and in the farmyard at Mr Gaine's farm on 16 May was later confirmed to be his. His death is being treated as murder.A man in his 50s, who was arrested last Sunday on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder, was later released without charge. He has denied any involvement in the farmer's disappearance.
