‘Jealous’ suspect in Annie McCarrick case now married with kids

This week’s shock arrest, the first in the 32-year-old case, came after gardai received a tip-off from a close associate of the chief suspect.

Extra.ie exclusively revealed back in March that an arrest was imminent after the investigating team identified a flaw in the previous case work.

Gardai had been focused on apparent sightings of Annie in Enniskerry and near Johnnie Fox’s pub. However, the new investigation team have now all but discounted these "sightings" and believe they may have led gardai away from Ms McCarrick’s inner circle and the man they have now identified as their chief suspect.

The huge break in the case has come more than 30 years after Ms McCarrick’s friends originally told gardaí that they were concerned about the ‘jealous’ man, who was well known to her.

They expressed concern that he had been harassing the 26-year-old before she suddenly disappeared. Witness statements from the now chief suspect were also taken at the time.

The suspect has gone on to live a successful life, both professionally and personally. He is married with children and has been prosperous in business.

Annie McCarrick.

 The suspect’s arrest this week also saw his former family home in Clondalkin cordoned off and searched with a cadaver dog, Fern, also brought in.

Fern is the same dog that helped locate Tina Satchwell’s remains under the stairs of her home.

Another significant development came this week when the suspect’s former family home in Clondalkin, Dublin, was cordoned off. Searches of the house were still ongoing on Saturday.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.