THE suspect in Annie McCarrick’s murder walked from garda custody flanked by his solicitor today – after a cadaver dog was drafted into the site gardai are digging up as they search for her body.
The Irish Sun can reveal that although the 62-year-old was released without charge today , cops are examining a number of old devices, phones and laptops, from his Co Meath home.
The businessman became the first ever person to be arrested in relation to the missing American when detectives sensationally swooped on his home on Thursday morning before 8am.
We have learned that he made no admissions, is understood to have denied any involvement in Annie’s disappearance and took his full eight hours break for sleep in custody.
Specialist investigators quizzed him over more than five separate alibis which the gardai are probing for any possible contradictions.
They are also investigating claims that the man – who was known to Annie – assaulted her while he was drunk in an incident prior to her vanishing.
He walked out of Irishtown Garda Station in Dublin before 3.30pm today and got into the front passenger seat of his solicitor’s car before it drove away.
Almost 17 kilometres away in Clondalkin, a cadaver dog – used to pick up and track the scent of human remains – was drafted into a property on the second day of the search.
The house has been renovated significantly over the years and its current occupiers have no connection with the case whatsoever.
The canine, which was loaned to the force by the PSNI and is named Fern, was walked in by a handler after 11am.
Work at the site today involved a mini digger, a concrete saw, a kango hammer and other equipment.
The machinery is being used in the small front driveway and in the 100ft rear back garden.
The search – being carried out in a bid to get answers for Annie’s heartbroken relatives to an end – will continue over the weekend.
It’s understood that no file to the Director of Public Prosecutions is imminent on the arrested suspect, who will only be re-arrested if new information comes to light on his alleged involvement in Annie’s disappearance in March 1993.
‘PERSON OF INTEREST’
The man was classified as a “person of interest” in the early years of the probe.
Following the re-classification of the case two years ago, when it was upgraded to murder, focus honed in on both him and another man who lives abroad.
Gardai spoke to the second man overseas before arresting the suspect this week.
The seizure of electronic devices will now see experts go through them in a bid to uncover any clues.
The upgrade of the case also saw new information come to light from the public regarding the house in Clondalkin, which is now being dug up.
‘REMAINS A SUSPECT’
A source told the Irish Sun: “The man was released and made no admissions. He remains a suspect in the case.
“There are seized items which are being looked at while other areas of investigation into him, his alibis and other matters are continuing.
“This is all off the back of fresh information gardai have got over recent years which was then coupled with reviewing what evidence had already been gathered. A vast amount of work has gone in.
“The search of the house remains a very much live operation.”
The suspect is married, has children and runs a business. Sources say he has lived a “comfortable” life over the years.
PROBE PLANS
The major 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.
Their ongoing work will now involve speaking to others again who they believe may have not told crucial details when they previously interacted with gardai.
New Yorker Annie, 26, was last seen alive on March 26, 1993 in Sandymount in south Dublin.
Originally from the US, she was an only child of Nancy and John, who died in 2009 without any answers.
Speaking today, Annie’s family’s US lawyer Michael Griffith said he has not lost faith in seeing justice being done for Annie.
‘VERY OPTIMISTIC’
He said: “I’m a very optimistic lawyer. I hope that one day it will have been solved and over the years I’ve gone to Ireland, I’ve got some friends there.
“I’ve made it my business to be interviewed by the garda, by the local press to try to keep the embers burning and I’m delighted to know that there’s been an arrest, although there is no conviction at this point, there’s only an arrest.
“So let’s see what the next developments will be.”
Gardai said that they will continue to keep the family of Annie fully updated in relation to the investigation and have been fully apprised of the developments.
They urged anyone with information to come forward, promising it will be treated with the “strictest confidence.”
A spokesman said: “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.”
