Gardaí investigating murder of Elizabeth Clarke sift through 'mountain' of material at house

Forensic officers at a house which is being searched in Navan, Co Meath as the investigation into the disappearance of Elizabeth Clarke, a mother-of-two from Co Meath, has been upgraded to a murder investigation. Elizabeth Clarke who lived in Navan, has not been seen since 2013. Picture:  Brian Lawless/PA

Gardaí spent much of Friday clearing a “mountain” of waste and material from inside a house in order to begin a search for the remains of a young mother.

The house in Navan, Co Meath, is also at the heart of a separate investigation, into the rape and neglect of children and a vulnerable adult.

One of the men linked to the abuse investigation is also associated with the investigation into the 11-year-old disappearance of Elizabeth Clarke.

Gardaí announced on Friday that what had been a missing person case into Ms Clarke was now a murder investigation.

Ms Clarke was living with people other than her own family at the home in Navan when she disappeared in late 2013.

However, she was not reported missing at the time. It was not until January 2015, when her own family found out, that she was reported missing to gardaí.

Ms Clarke, a mother of two children, was aged 24 at the time of her disappearance.

An appeal leaflet attached to a pole near to the house which is being searched in Navan. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

Gardaí believe she suffered a violent death and that her body was disposed of by her killer or killers and their accomplices.

Detectives have persons of interest in relation to her disappearance and are hoping they may uncover forensic evidence, including possible remains, in the search at the home.

But sources have stressed that expectations should not be raised and point to a number of recent searches for remains in other cases that failed to uncover any evidence.

Gardaí in Navan sought and obtained a warrant from the courts to search the house and on Friday morning began the operation.

The Garda National Technical Bureau was assisted by the Meath Divisional Search Team.

Officers were seen removing large quantities of household items and rubbish from the house. Members had to use wheelbarrows given the sheer scale of material.

“The state of the house was such that an awful lot of stuff had to be cleared from it,” one local source said. “There was a mountain of stuff and conditions were fairly squalid inside.” 

It is understood the officers identified material of no possible assistance for the purpose of the search and this was discarded.

Once the house is clear of objects, the technical bureau and search team will determine how to conduct their searches for any possible remains. A forensic archaeologist is available to assist gardaí if needed.

Garda at a house which is being searched in Navan, Co Meath. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA

A statement issued by Garda HQ said: “Gardaí at Navan Garda Station continue to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Elizabeth Clarke who has not been seen since 2013.

“Elizabeth, a mother of two lived in Navan, Co. Meath. She had previously lived in both Portrane and Bettystown, Co. Meath with her family. Elizabeth was aged 24 years old at the time of her disappearance.

“Elizabeth was officially reported missing by her family in January 2015. The disappearance of Elizabeth Clarke has been the subject of a sustained Garda investigation, by the investigation team based at Navan Garda Station.” 

It said gardaí have carried out “extensive previous enquiries”, including house-to-house enquiries, land searches, canal and river searches assisted by the Garda Water Unit and Meath River Rescue.

It said: “There have been no sightings of Elizabeth in over 10 years. As a result of these extensive enquires, An Garda Síochána have re-classified the investigation from a missing person investigation to a murder investigation."