Níl ábhar an phodchraolta seo feiliúnach d’éisteoirí atá faoi 18 mbliana d’aois.

The contents of this podcast is not suitable for listeners under the age of 18.

Ar an 14ú lá de mhí Lúnasa 1994 d'fhág Arlene Arkinson a theach i gCaisleán na Deirge Co. Thír Eoghain chun dul chuig dioscó i mBun Dobhráin. Níor aimsíodh a corp ar riamh, ach os cionn 20 bliain ina dhiaidh rialófaí ag ionchoisne go fuadaíodh agus dúnmharaíodh í ag an dúnmharfóir sraitheach Robert Howard. Tá a teaghlach fós á cuardach go dtí an lá inniu.

San eagrán seo labharíonn léiritheoir an sraith Sorcha Nic Eochagáin leis an t-iriseoir Póilín Ní Chiaráin faoi dúnmharú Arlene Arkinson agus pléann siad cleasanna mealltóireacht Robert Howard.

D’fhoilsigh Oifig Ombudsman na bPóilíní do Thuaisceart Éireann tuarascáil ar chás Arlene Arkinson i mí Lúnasa 2008 ina raibh na fionnachtainí seo a leanas: Rinne na póilíní imscrúdú tosaigh a bhí sách críochnúil. Dhírigh siad mar ba cheart ar ghluaiseachtaí deireanacha Arlene a rabhthas ar an eolas fúthu. Shonraigh siad áiteanna cuardaigh mar ba cheart agus labhraíodh le finnéithe tábhachtacha. Ghlac Oifigeach A úinéireacht ar an imscrúdú tosaigh agus rinne sé a chuid fiosruithe go díograiseach agus go gasta. Thug sé míchuinnis faoi deara i measc na bhfinnéithe tábhachtacha agus thuairiscigh sé an méid sin don CID.

Theip ar an imscrúdú a rinneadh ina dhiaidh sin faoi stiúir Oifigeach B amhras a léiriú go luath i leith Arlene Arkinson a bheith imithe gan tásc gan tuairisc. Seans gur laghdaigh sé sin na deiseanna imscrúdúcháin agus fóiréinseacha. Níor cuireadh suíomhanna féideartha san áireamh chun an leas ab fhearr ab fhéidir a bhaint as deiseanna fianaise, ina measc carr Robert Howard, nár gabhadh agus nár cuardaíodh go luath.

Níor ghabh na póilíní Robert Howard go dtí 46 lá tar éis do Arlene Arkinson a bheith imithe gan tásc gan tuairisc. Toisc nach ndearnadh é sin cuireadh cosc le héadaí a chaith sé an oíche a d'imigh Arlene Arkinson gan tásc gan tuairisc a ghabháil agus dá réir sin bhí deis ag an duine a bhí faoi amhras fáil réidh leis an bhfianaise.

15 year old Arlene Arkinson was last seen on the 14th of August 1994 as she left her home in Castlederg, Co. Tyrone to attend a disco in Bundoran. Her body has never been found but over 20 years later it would be ruled at inquest that she was abducted and murdered by serial killer Robert Howard. Her family still search for her remains to this day.

In this episode the series producer Sorcha Nic Eochagáin speaks with the journalist Póilín Ní Chiaráin about the murder of Arlene Arkinson and they discuss the grooming techniques of Robert Howard.

The Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland published a report on the Arlene Arkinson case in August 2008 which included the following findings: The police conducted quite a thorough initial investigation. They correctly focused on Arlene’s last known movements. They correctly identified areas for searches and key witnesses were spoken to. Officer A took ownership of the initial investigation and conducted his inquiries diligently and expeditiously. He quickly identified inaccuracies among the key witnesses and reported this to CID.

The subsequent investigation led by Officer B failed to treat the disappearance as suspicious at an early stage. This potentially reduced the investigative and forensic opportunities. Potential scenes were not considered for maximising evidential opportunities, including Robert Howard’s car, which was not seized or searched at an early stage.

The police did not arrest Robert Howard until 46 days after the disappearance. The failure to do so prevented the seizure of clothing he wore on the night of the disappearance and allowed the suspect the opportunity to dispose of evidence.

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