Search takes place in north County Dublin for murdered couple last seen in April 2015
By Rebecca Black, PA
A search has begun in north County Dublin for a man and woman who are missing and believed to be murdered.
Gardaí said William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane were last seen in April 2015.
In 2016, the case was upgraded to a murder investigation.
Seven people have previously been arrested by gardaí investigating the disappearance of the pair.
On Friday gardaí started a search of open lands in north County Dublin which is set to continue over the coming days.
Mr Maughan and Ms Varslavane, who were a couple, were last seen on Tuesday April 14th, 2015.
They had been living in a caravan in Gormanston, Co Meath, but had decided to return to Mr Maughan’s family home in Tallaght.
The couple had been in Balbriggan on April 14th, and later got a taxi together to Gormanston shortly after 2.30pm, where Mr Maughan’s mother was to collect them and their belongings.
Mr Maughan spoke to his mother at around 2.30pm, asking her to come to Gormanston. However, when she arrived there just before 3pm, she could not find the pair.
She went on to report them both as missing.
Gardai said an extensive investigation was launched with several searches and inquiries, and the case was upgraded to a murder investigation following a review in September 2016.
A Garda spokesperson said they are keeping the family fully updated, and reissued an appeal for anyone with information about the disappearance and murder of Mr Maughan and Ms Varslavane to speak with investigating gardai.
“Given the passage of time since their disappearance, individuals’ personal circumstances may now have changed and people may now be in a position to either speak to the investigating Gardai or to provide information now that they may not have been able to provide before,” they said.
Anyone with information should contact Ashbourne Garda Station on 01 8010600 or any Garda station.
To provide information confidentially, contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
