The arrest of a man in connection to the disappearance of Annie McCarrick has been described as the “biggest development” since she went missing in 1993. 

On Thursday morning, Gardaí arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of murder and he has been detained at a Garda station in Dublin; on Friday afternoon, he was released without charge. 

They are also conducting a search of a property in Clondalkin; a Garda spokesperson stressed the current occupants of the house are not connected to Ms McCarrick’s disappearance. 

Annie McCarrick (L) and Linda Ringhouse (R). Image: Supplied

Originally from New York, Ms McCarrick studied in Ireland in the 1980s and moved permanently to Dublin in January 1993. 

Two months later, she disappeared. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, Irish Times Crime & Security Editor Conor Lally said the man detained for questioning was known to Ms McCarrick. 

“He was in her social circles, he was one of her friends here,” Mr Lally explained. 

“Really I suppose at times, she had a troubled relationship with him; he’s been spoken to several times over the last 30 years - as have other people to be fair.

“Gardaí got new information fairly recently and they decided to act on that information yesterday morning. 

“He was arrested and he’s still being held and that property is still being searched. 

“So, this is the biggest development in the case over the last 30 years.” 

Annie McCarrick. Image: An Garda Síochána

Although Ms McCarrick has been missing for over three decades, this is the first time Gardaí have arrested anyone or searched a property in connection to the case. 

“When we look back at this case, people will recall that a lot of information at the time was pointing Gardaí towards places like Enniskerry - but really that information I think has now all but been ruled out,” Mr Lally said. 

“Gardaí are very focused on Annie’s apartment in the Sandymount area and they really believe she vanished from there and she probably didn’t stray too far from there on the day that she was last seen.” 

Mr Lally added that crimes committed decades ago are “very hard to solve” but that Gardaí are “quite hopeful” a breakthrough is still possible.

Main image: Annie McCarrick. Picture by: Colin Keegan.