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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Conor Coyle

TG4 series to shine light on 1994 disappearance and murder of Co Tyrone teen

A new TG4 documentary series is to shine a light on the disappearance and murder of Co Tyrone teen Arlene Arkinson in 1994.

15-year-old Arlene was last seen on 14 August 1994 as she left her home in Castlederg to attend a disco in Bundoran, with her body never being found.

In 2021 a coroner ruled that convicted child killer and rapist Robert Howard was responsible, on the balance of probabilities, for the death of the Co Tyrone schoolgirl.

READ MORE: Arlene Arkinson: Child killer Robert Howard responsible for her death, coroner rules

Howard, originally from Co Laois , was charged with the murder of Arlene Arkinson in 2002, but acquitted in 2005.

He died in prison custody in England in 2015 while serving a life sentence for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Hannah Williams from London.

The second episode of Marú inár Measc by Midas Productions features interviews with Arlene’s family, including her sister Kathleen, who fought a long campaign for justice and continue to search for her.

“I just wished that I could’ve changed that night” Kathleen, Arlene’s sister says as she replays the last time that she saw her little sister.

“Not only the person he’s killed or the child or the woman, he’s broke so many families.

“He’s left so many families that they are just hanging on by a thread and that’s it.

“She’s still here and she’s still 15. I just would have loved to have seen how her life would have ended up.”

Arlene left Kathleen’s house the night of the 13th of August after babysitting for her while Kathleen went to the local Bingo. Arlene had been invited by another local teen, Donna Quinn, to a disco over the border in Bundoran, Co. Donegal.

She left that night in a car with Donna, Donna’s boyfriend Sean and Robert Howard who drove the car.

This would be the last time that Arlene would be seen by her family and nearly 30 years later they still search for her, hoping one day to bury her remains along with their parents.

Marú inár Measc episode 2 will air on TG4 on Wednesday 29 March at 9.30pm.

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