Burnt-out car belongs to Catherine Gowing, police confirm

Police in north Wales have confirmed that a burnt-out car found last night is that of missing Offaly woman Catherine Gowing.

The vehicle was discovered in a laneway around two miles from her home in the village of Mold.

The area has been sealed off and detailed forensic examinations are being carried out.

The 37-year-old vet has not been seen since last Friday.

A 46-year-old man from Gwynedd remains in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of her murder on Tuesday night.

Detective Superintendent John Hanson from North Wales Police says the search for Catherine is continuing.

"This will be a thorough and detailed process, and is likely to take some time," he said.

"This searches will utilise police resources from across north Wales, including specialist search dogs and an underwater search team.

"We have been supported by specialist search teams and advisors who have been drawn from across the UK."

Detective Superintendent Hanson appealed to anyone with information about Ms Gowing or the car to contact police immediately to help relieve “the pain that Catherine’s friends and family are going through”.

The car was found at about 7.15pm yesterday evening after a member of the public contacted police.

It was around two miles from Ms Gowing’s home in New Brighton, Flintshire.

The last recorded sighting of her was at a supermarket in Queensferry last Friday evening and officers have been scouring CCTV and carrying out a forensic examination of her home as they try to establish her whereabouts.

Mr Hanson said reports that the suspect in custody was the boyfriend of Ms Gowing's housemate, also a vet from Ireland, was a “line of inquiry” the force is investigating.

He added that the cordon around the car will remain in place for some time as a “dynamic” search takes place.

“The Clio was found in an isolated area of Pinfold Lane, close to a disused quarry surrounded by woodland and near to the quarry pool,” he said.

“The vehicle is completely burnt-out.

“There are extensive North Wales Police resources, including some of our specialist resources like the dogs and the underwater search team.

“We are being supported by specialist search teams and advisers who have been drawn from across the UK.”

Mr Hanson said specialist search teams were examining two other locations in North Wales which have not been identified.

“House to house inquiries continue and we continue to view CCTV footage, examine mobile phones and other technical data.”

He said the last positive sighting of Ms Gowing remained the CCTV footage at Asda and he believed she never returned home over the weekend.

Ms Gowing’s family were described as “distraught”.

“They are looking for any news as to where Catherine might be,” he said.

“They are extremely grateful for the public’s response and they are relieved that the vehicle has been found, but by the same token they have still got no answers as to where Catherine is at this moment in time.”