Arrests expected in Rostas case

Detectives investigating the murder of Romanian teenager Mariora Rostas will wait for results from forensic and DNA tests before they move to re-arrest the main suspects in her death.

However, officers may begin re-arresting people they suspect are on the periphery of involvement in her disappearance. These individuals were among seven people who were previously questioned on suspicion of withholding information.

The remains of Ms Rostas, who vanished four years ago, were found on Monday following an 11-day search in the Wicklow mountains.

Gardaí believe the Roma woman was sexually assaulted and murdered by a noted Dublin criminal before being dumped in forested area near Kippure, in west Wicklow.

This criminal, described by one garda source as “psychotic and volatile” has already been questioned about the woman’s disappearance, which occurred on Jan 6, 2008.

Ms Rostas was said to have been 18 when she disappeared, but Garda sources said they could not be sure.

Gardaí last night said Romanian authorities had informed Ms Rostas’ family that a body had been found but advised there had been no positive identification as yet.

Gardaí are awaiting the results of DNA tests and checks on dental records before they officially declare the remains as that of Ms Rostas.

Ms Rostas was last seen by her brother while they were out begging on a street in Dublin’s south inner city. Her brother saw her getting, apparently voluntarily, into a silver Mondeo car.