Police in the North have pledged to do everything they can to recover the body of a murdered schoolgirl as fresh searches for her remains began 17 years after her disappearance.

A convicted murderer in jail in England is to be called to give evidence at the inquest into the death of a Co Tyrone teenager he was acquitted of murdering, a coroner ruled today.

Forensic scientists today joined a new police search for the body of a missing schoolgirl in the North.

SERIAL sex attacker Robert Howard, who was cleared of murdering schoolgirl Arlene Arkinson, may have been working for the police special branch at the time she disappeared, it was claimed last night.