Murder probe launched over missing librarian

A murder inquiry was launched today into the mystery disappearance of a retired librarian in Northern Ireland.

Detectives upgraded the investigation from suspected suicide after talks with a senior British police officer who specialises in missing persons.

Mother of five, Attracta Harron, 65, from Strabane, Co. Tyrone vanished more than two months ago after attending Mass in neighbouring Lifford, Co. Donegal.

Inspector John Gilmore said: “We will now focus on the theory that she was murdered. I am satisfied she is dead.”

One man has been questioned but released without charge. He is expected to be interviewed again.

Two clinical psychologists have been assisting the inquiry, along with a senior member of the UK National Crime and Operations Faculty, based at Bramshill, Hampshire.

Major searches of woods and three rivers have been carried out but nothing has been found.

Police are also attempting to trace two motorists, one whom was reportedly sighted talking to a woman, who fitted Mrs Harron’s description, at the time she vanished between Strabane and Lifford on December 11. He had a southern Irish accent and was aged between 40 and 50.

The second driver was in a car seen not long afterwards near the village of Sion Mills, three miles away, speeding towards the border. A woman sitting in the front passenger seat was suffering from a bleeding head wound, police were told.

Inspector Gilmore said he was reasonably satisfied Mrs Harron did not commit suicide or die as a result of an accident.

He said: “We have examined analysis provided by a search advisor and independent clinical psychologists and, while we are working on the theory she was murdered, we have no motive.”

Mrs Harron’s husband Michael, also 65 and a retired teacher said he had not given up hope of finding her alive.

He said: “There is no proof she is dead. There is no proof she has been murdered. As a family, we still have hopes she is alive. I cannot see how anyone could think of murdering her. It is a total mystery.”