Man arrested on suspicion of murdering missing woman

Gardaí in Co Cork have arrested a 49-year-old man on suspicion of murdering Anne Corcoran, who has been missing for more than two weeks.

A man was arrested today on suspicion of murdering a widow who has been missing for more than a fortnight.

Anne Corcoran, 60, disappeared from her home on a small farm in west Cork on January 22.

Gardaí said the man, 49, was detained shortly after 8am in the Bandon area and was being questioned at the local Garda station.

Ms Corcoran had lived alone at her farmhouse at Maulnaskimlehane, near Kilbrittain, since her husband died in 2007.

Detectives said she had not been seen since meeting a friend at the Speckled Door pub near the Old Head of Kinsale on January 18, although she did speak with a friend by phone the next day.

Her green Peugeot 206 was found near a stream in Oldcastle, just outside Bandon, last Wednesday, and gardai are hoping it will contain some DNA or fingerprint evidence.

The arrested man is being held under section four of the Criminal Justice Act and can be questioned for 24 hours.

Gardaí have issued a description of Ms Corcoran and appealed for anyone who may have seen her around January 18 to come forward.

She was five feet tall, of slim build, with short wavy brown hair and was normally well dressed. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bandon Garda Station.