Construction worker Martin Early broke down in tears and hugged members of his legal team in court after a jury, on the directions of a judge, acquitted him of the murder of a young, pregnant, woman almost 14 years ago.

A witness told the Central Criminal Court yesterday the man accused of murdering Sandra Collins 14 years ago told him that she accidentally fell into the sea while he was with her at Killala Pier.

A man who denies murdering a 29-year-old Mayo woman in December 2000 admitted to a special team of Garda investigators more than six months later that he had sex with her twice, the Central Criminal Court was told yesterday.

Suspected murder victim Sandra Collins would have paid a total of £295 sterling had she gone ahead with her plans to terminate her pregnancy in Britain, it emerged yesterday.

A Mayo woman who has been missing since December 2000 had a positive pregnancy test confirmed by her GP on the day she disappeared, the Central Criminal Court has been told.

A 48-year-old man charged with the murder of Sandra Collins over 12 years ago has been further remanded in custody.

A 48-year-old man has been remanded in custody for a further two weeks after appearing before Harristown court in Castlerea today in connection with the murder of Sandra Collins in December 2000.

A 48-year-old-man is to go on trial before the Central Criminal Court charged with the murder of a woman 12 years ago whose body has never been found.

SANDRA Collins, 29, had just gone to the shop for sausages on the night she vanished in the town of Killala, Co Mayo.

The family of a woman killed 12 years ago has thanked the Gardaí for keeping her case open, and has appealed for her body to be returned to them.

A 48-year-old man has appeared in court in Mayo charged with the murder of Sandra Collins in December 2000.

A man in his forties is due in court in Mayo later in connection with the murder of Sandra Collins 12 years ago.

A man is due to appear in court this morning charged in connection with the murder of a 29-year-old Mayo woman just over 12 years ago.

Gardaí investigating the murder of Sandra Collins in Mayo 12 years ago have arrested a man in his 40s

A man in his forties has been released without charge, after being questioned over the disappearance of a Mayo woman 11 years ago.

Gardaí investigating the disappearance of a woman in Co. Mayo 11 years ago have made an arrest.

A 58-year old man who was being questionned in connection with the disappearance of a woman in Co Mayo more than a decade ago has been released without charge.

A SECOND man was arrested last night in connection with the disappearance of Sandra Collins in Co Mayo 10 years ago.

Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Sandra Collins in the Killala area of Co. Mayo on December 4/5, 2000, have released a man from Garda custody.

Gardaí in Mayo are continuing to question a man in his 40s in connection with the disappearance of Sandra Collins.

GARDAÍ investigating the disappearance and suspected murder of a woman in Co Mayo more than 10 years ago have made a second arrest.

A man has been arrested by detectives investigating the disappearance of a woman more than a decade ago.

GARDAÍ investigating the disappearance and suspected murder of a woman in Co Mayo in 2000 have arrested a woman who was only 11 at the time.

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a woman more than 10 years ago have today arrested a person who was just 11 at the time.

Gardaí in Ballina are renewing their appeal for information regarding the disappearance of a 29-year-old woman who has been missing for more than 10 years.

THE sister of a carer who vanished after a trip to the chipper more than 10 years ago has made a fresh appeal for the return of her body.

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for information 10 years after the disappearance of Mayo woman Sandra Collins.