Search for Romanian teen hits ‘stalemate’

GARDAÍ investigating the mysterious disappearance of a Romanian teenager have reached a “stalemate” in their investigations.

Senior sources yesterday described the case as “most unusual”.

Gardaí launched a search along a section of Dublin’s Grand Canal last week after it received confidential information that a 19-year-old Romanian, Marioara Rostas, had been shot dead and her body dumped at a certain location on the canal.

Detectives checked out the information, in so much as they could, and determined that it appeared to be genuine. They then carried out a search, with the help of the Garda Water Unit.

Gardaí found nothing of any assistance in the search.

“The search we were doing turned out negative,” said a garda source. “It’s not working out, so we’re back to the drawing board. While there is this information, there is nothing to confirm it.”

He said gardaí had “absolutely no evidence” to back up the claims and it was possible the information was wrong.

“The way the information came in, you could take the view there may be another agenda, there may be another reason. But we double checked the information as best we could and it appeared to be genuine.”

He said the family had been helpful but did not seem to know anything about Marioara’s disappearance. The garda source said the case was “most unusual” and didn’t make “a lot of sense”.

Marioara had only been in the country ten days when she disappeared. She was last seen by her brother getting into a car on January 6 on Lombard Street East, near Pearse Street.

Gardaí received information that she apparently befriended a well-known local drug dealer and criminal. According to the information, this man shot her for some reason.

Gardaí said the criminal was a “serious individual”. Detectives are sceptical as to why he would kill the girl, but said it was possible he was “off his head” and decided to shoot her.

The criminal is living openly in the area and is not lying low.

A house rented from the Health Service Executive, where it is claimed she may have been shot, was burnt out. Gardaí have conducted forensic tests there and are awaiting results.

“There is nothing so far from that,” said a source.

“We have done what we can with the information. Where we go from here will depend on some other information, whether from people coming forward or forensics. We’re looking at stalemate at the moment.”