Breakthrough in Annie McCarrick Murder Case: Gardaí Arrest Suspect Following Statement from His Brother

 Dublin, June 16, 2025 — A key development in the long-standing investigation into the 1993 murder of American woman Annie McCarrick has emerged, with Gardaí arresting a suspect last Thursday — reportedly prompted by new evidence provided by the suspect’s own brother, sources have revealed.

The arrest, made by officers from Irishtown Garda Station, came just three days after the suspect was initially released without charge. It is now understood that a pivotal statement made by the suspect’s brother, who lives overseas and is said to be suffering from serious health issues, served as a primary catalyst for the renewed action.

According to sources, detectives travelled abroad earlier this year to meet with the brother, who voluntarily provided a statement concerning his sibling's alibi on the day Ms McCarrick disappeared in March 1993. McCarrick, a 26-year-old native of New York, was last seen in the Sandymount area of Dublin, near her residence.

Crucially, the brother's account is believed to have significantly undermined the suspect’s original alibi, leading Gardaí to take further investigative steps. On Thursday morning, the suspect — a millionaire businessman in his 60s — was re-arrested in a coordinated operation that also saw a property in Clondalkin, southwest Dublin, sealed off as part of the inquiry.

Gardaí have clarified that the current residents of the Clondalkin home are not connected in any way to either Ms McCarrick or the investigation. The suspect was detained for 24 hours and released without charge on Friday afternoon. However, authorities have emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing.

A detailed forensic search of the Clondalkin property — particularly its garden area — is currently underway. While the house itself is not the focal point of the investigation, specialists from the Garda Technical Bureau, supported by detectives from Irishtown, are exploring whether Ms McCarrick’s remains may have been buried there decades ago, well before the arrival of the current occupants.

In a notable move, Gardaí enlisted the help of PSNI cadaver dog “Fern”, one of three such dogs in Northern Ireland occasionally loaned for sensitive operations. Fern is credited with the discovery of the remains of Tina Satchwell in Youghal, Co Cork, in 2023 — more than six years after her disappearance.

Search operations at the Clondalkin site are expected to continue for several days, as investigators pursue what could be the most significant lead in the 32-year search for justice in the Annie McCarrick case.