Annie McCarrick disappeared in Dublin more than three decades ago. But this week, police arrested a respected businessman aged in his 60s in connection to her murder
New developments have emerged in a mystery cold case after police arrested a millionaire over the murder of a student who went missing more than 32 years ago. Annie McCarrick, who was 26 at the time, vanished whilst living in Dublin on March 26, 1993. The case was viewed as a missing person enquiry until gardaí (Irish police) changed it to a murder investigation in 2023.
On Thursday, a man was arrested for her murder, with police launching a search inside of a property in the Clondalkin area of Dublin. Sources have since revealed that the suspect is a businessman who owns several properties, with a combined value of £850,920.00.
They claimed that the man is in his 60s and was obsessed with the American student. 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.
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.
Sources last night told us that gardai took the decision to arrest the suspect after a thorough review of the case that has seen dozens of people interviewed by detectives, reports Irish Mirror. They said investigators were not anticipating any immediate breakthrough in the case – but remained hopeful. “This arrest is not a shot in the dark,” one source said last night. “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.”
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. Gardai announced the dramatic development in a statement early yesterday morning. The force 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.”
The statement also said local gardai were being assisted by detectives from the Garda Cold Case Unit and National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The force said: “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.”
And officers also appealed for witnesses to come forward – even if they had been holding back information for decades. Gardai said: “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.”
It’s understood gardai were aware of the suspect shortly after Annie was last seen in a coffee shop in the Sandymount area of south Dublin on March 26, 1993. Sources say he was able to give an account of his whereabouts around the time Annie disappeared – but that account is now under the spotlight again.