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05 Sept 2025
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05 Sept 2025
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The scene at Ballybobaneen Forest and (inset) Arlene Arkinson. Photo: Joe Boland (North West Newspix)
Gardai have begun a search for the remains of Arlene Arkinson in the Glenfin area of Donegal.
A major search and dig operation has been launched at the remote Ballybobaneen Forest near Cloghan. The site is remaining under guard by members of An Garda Siochana.
The operation comes 30 years after the disappearance of the 15-year-old from Castlederg following a night out in Bundoran.
“I can confirm Garda searches have been ongoing in the area,” a Garda spokesperson told Donegal Live. “We have no further information beyond that.”
It has been established that the forest is being examined for Arlene's remains.
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A team of experts is expected back on site again on Tuesday morning.
“Hopefully she can be found this time,” a source close to the operation said.
Several searches have taken place in the years since Arlene was last seen in August 1994, but so far nothing has been found.
In May of this year, a large operation took place in the Castlefin area, but nothing was found.
Donegal Live has reported that An Garda Siochana have been liaising with the family in relation to the operation.
Arlene was last seen in a car driven by serial killer Robert Howard on August 14, 1994, and her body has never been found.
It was ruled at an inquest in 2021 Arlene was abducted and murdered by Howard, who died in prison in 2015, aged 71.
Howard was previously charged with her murder in 2002, but acquitted in 2005.
Speaking ahead of a 30th anniversary vigil recently, Kathleen Arkinson said her sister deserved "to be found and get a decent burial" and that she believed deep in her heart that "some day Arlene will be found".
Arlene left Kathleen’s house the night after babysitting for her while Kathleen went to the local bingo.
Arlene had been invited by another local teen, Donna Quinn, to a disco in Bundoran.
She left that night in a car with Donna, Donna’s boyfriend Sean and Howard, who drove the car. This was last time that Arlene would be seen by her family.
Almost 30 years later the family continue their search for her, hoping one day to bury her remains along with their parents.
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