Man being questioned in mullingar over 1977 child disappearance in donegal
A man has been detained for questioning at Mullingar Garda Station over the disappearance of a six year old girl in County Donegal in 1977.
According to An Garda Síochána, following the discovery of new evidence by the Review Team based in the Northern Region that has been investigating the disappearance of Mary Boyle in March 1977, a man aged 64 has today been arrested by An Garda Síochána for alleged kidnapping.
The man has been detained for questioning in Mullingar Station under the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and is currently being questioned. He can be detained for up to 24 hours.
Mary Boyle, who was six years old at the time, went missing from near her grandparents’ home in Cashelard, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal on 18 March 1977. Mary, from Belcruit, Kincasslagh, Co Donegal, was on a family visit to her grandparents’ home accompanied by her parents and siblings when she disappeared.
As well as the investigation at the time there have been two reviews by An Garda Síochána into Mary's disappearance. The latest began in 2011 and is being undertaken by a Review Team from the Northern Region. The Review team has to date conducted a significant investigation that has involved interviewing a wide range of people and undertaking a number of searches with the assistance of forensic and geology experts. Its investigation is ongoing.
Speaking today, Assistant Commissioner Northern Region Kieran Kenny said: "We are appealing for anyone with any information on the circumstances around Mary's disappearance to contact us. Even something that people may have thought was insignificant at the time could help us advance the continuing investigation."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Incident Room at Ballyshannon Garda Station at 071 9858530 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.
A Family Liaison Officer has been continuously liaising with Mary’s mother, Ann Boyle, to keep her informed of developments including today’s arrest.