Man arrested on suspicion of McCarrick murder released without charge

A man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering an American woman in Ireland more than three decades ago has been released without charge.

Annie McCarrick was 26 years old when she disappeared in Dublin in March 1993.

The Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported that the man who had been questioned about her murder knew Ms McCarrick in the 1990s and is described by Gardaí (Irish police) as an associate who moved in her circle.

He had been in custody since Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Gardaí have brought a cadaver dog to the scene of searches which are taking place at a house in Dublin in connection with the investigation.

Cadaver dogs are trained to detect signs of human remains.

The dog being used by Gardaí during the searches at the house and garden in the Clondalkin area of Dublin has been borrowed from the PSNI, as Gardaí don't have one of their own.

The search teams are also using heavy tools and excavation machinery.

Gardaí have stressed that the current residents at the property are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her disappearance.

Ms McCarrick had moved from her home in the United States to live permanently in Ireland prior to her disappearance

Her family is being kept updated about the latest developments and Gardaí have renewed their appeal to anyone with information about the case to come forward to assist their inquiries.

Annie McCarrick was the only child of her father John and mother Nancy and was originally from New York, USA.

As a teenager, she visited Ireland on a school trip.

Her parents have previously described how she fell in love with the country and the way of life, and how upon her return to New York she indicated her intention to return to Ireland to live.

In 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, when she completed her studies at Stoney Brook University.

In January 1993, the young woman moved to Ireland to live permanently and settled into rental accommodation with two flatmates at Sandymount in Dublin.

Two months later, when her flatmates had gone home for a weekend, she invited friends around for dinner, but she was not at home when they called to the flat.

Groceries had been left unpacked in shopping bags, and the young woman has not been seen since that time.

The case had been a high-profile missing persons investigation in Ireland for 30 years before it took a significant turn two years ago when it was upgraded to a murder inquiry.

At the time of her disappearance, Annie McCarrick was said to be excited and making plans for her mother Nancy's impending visit to Ireland the following week.