Divers seek Offaly woman

Specialist underwater units and forensic experts continued a massive search operation yesterday near where missing Offaly woman Catherine Gowing’s burned-out car was found last Friday.

The family of the 37-year-old vowed over the weekend to “bring her home” after a man was charged on Saturday with her murder.

Clive Sharp, a boyfriend of Ms Gowing’s housemate and friend, Irishwoman Jane Doyle, will appear in a British court again tomorrow, where the issue of bail will be decided.

Police in North Wales are concentrating searches around a disused quarry and quarry lake, some 4km from Ms Gowing’s home in New Brighton in Flintshire.

Specialist divers have been brought in to search the quarry lake, which is near the wooded area where Ms Gowing’s Renault Clio was found. Dog units are also being used along the edge of the lake and in the woodland.

Ms Gowing’s sister, Emma, sat in the public gallery at Mold Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning as Mr Sharp, 46, stood just yards away in the dock.

The defendant, of no fixed address, spoke only to give his name and date of birth and confirm that he understood the charge — that he murdered Ms Gowing in North Wales between Oct 11 and 17.

Emma Gowing, accompanied by her husband, Shay Maguire, and two police family liaison officers, leaned forward in her seat to get a closer view of Mr Sharp, who fixed his gaze on the magistrates’ bench.

Bench chairman David Tapp remanded Mr Sharp in custody to appear at Caernarfon Crown Court tomorrow.

After the short hearing, Det Insp Iestyn Davies said on behalf of Ms Gowing’s family: “Our primary concern and objective is that we find Catherine.

“The support we have received from the police, the public and all Catherine’s friends and family has kept us going and will continue to do so.

“We will bring Catherine home.”

Ms Gowing was reported missing after she failed to arrive at work at the Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold, North Wales, last Monday.

The last confirmed sighting of Ms Gowing was at an Asda supermarket in Queensferry on Friday evening, Oct 12, and officers have been scouring CCTV as they established her movements.

Ms Gowing, who is originally from Clonlee, Co Offaly, had worked at Evans Veterinary Practice in Mold for the last 18 months.

Sharp worked as a sales consultant for adventure company Blizzard Survival in Gwynedd, near where Ms Gowing and Ms Doyle lived.