A photograph of Annie McCarrick – originally thought to be the last confirmed image of the American woman on the day she disappeared in 1993 – was in fact taken 11 days earlier, it has emerged.
A year after her case was upgraded to a murder investigation a new Garda investigation team has determined that the grainy CCTV footage of the 26-year-old in her local AIB branch in Sandymount – widely publicised as the last definitive image captured of her on Friday, March 26th, 1993 – was in fact captured on March 15th that year.
The Garda Press Office confirmed on Friday evening the original date given for the CCTV image was incorrect and that it was in fact taken on March 15th. However, the Garda team is confident the bag Ms McCarrick had in the image was the bag she had on the day she went missing.
The cold case team, appointed last year at the time of the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of the American student, has uncovered a series of errors in the original investigation.
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The narrative around McCarrick’s last movements for three decades has been undermined by the forensic work of the new Garda team, who now believe the story of her disappearance may have been closer to her home in Sandymount, Dublin, and not in Johnny Fox’s pub in Glencullen in the Dublin mountains, as originally thought.
Speaking to The Irish Times from her home on Long Island in New York, Ms McCarrick’s mother Nancy has confirmed she is very impressed by the Garda team this time around.
How the investigation into Annie McCarrick's disappearance took a wrong turn
“Members of the team have visited me twice, and their forensic attention to detail has been impressive. They have started from the beginning again, and are re-examining every detail,” she said.
“They have also kept in regular contact since last year, and I am aware they are continuing to track down people who may be in a position to help with their inquiries.”
Nancy McCarrick (80) still lives in hope that her daughter’s remains may be returned to her for burial.
Annie’s childhood friend Linda Ringhouse remains very forthright that there may have been a different outcome if concerns expressed to gardaí in faxes by family and friends in the aftermath of Ms McCarrick’s disappearance had been taken more seriously at the time. She also has great confidence in the new investigative team.
“It’s never too late for someone to speak up. Someone knows something and isn’t it just the right thing to do?” said Ms Ringhouse.
On Tuesday, the 31st anniversary of Ms McCarrick’s disappearance, Gardaí will renew their appeal to the public for any information that may shed light on the case and murder.
“Individuals who may have interacted with Annie on or after March 26th, 1993, are urged to come forward and assist in the investigation,” the Garda will say in a statement to be released next week.
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