Missing librarian: Man held by police

A man was today being held by detectives in Northern Ireland probing the murder of a retired librarian who has been missing for more than three months.

Attracta Harron, 65, from Strabane, Co Tyrone, has not been seen since she attended Mass across the border in Co Donegal in December.

Despite a massive police hunt, including divers trawling the rivers around the town, her body has never been found.

Mrs Harron’s family have clung to a glimmer of hope that she may still be alive and tirelessly searched for any clue that may help them solve the mystery of her disappearance.

But police confirmed their worst fears when they disclosed that a 21-year-old man from Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, was arrested today in connection with the pensioner’s murder.

He was taken to a station in Antrim for questioning about the killing.

A spokeswoman added: “Police are keeping an open mind as to the motive but it’s not believed to be sectarian.”

Security sources also revealed that detectives had ruled out any kind of domestic link to the murder.