LAST UPDATE | 28 Jun 2023
GARDAÍ ARE INVESTIGATING a potential murder as part of an ongoing operation at the Sliabh Liag sea cliffs in Donegal.
The cliffs remain closed to the public for a third day following a missing persons search which began on Monday. The search has involved gardaí and the Irish Coast Guard’s Rescue 118 helicopter.
Gardaí said in a statement this morning that investigations are ongoing.
Two people, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s, were arrested by gardaí on Sunday last.
The arrests followed a tip-off to gardaí by a third party who claims she had been told of an incident, which led gardaí to believe that a man had been seriously injured.
The man who is believed to be missing is from Northern Ireland.
The Journal understands that gardaí are investigating a potential murder but that the coastal location has created logistical challenges.
Slieve Liag is a mountain on the coast of Donegal and has some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe.
Despite the extensive search over the past two days however, nothing has been found.
Last night, the search was once again called off.
The various search parties are meeting again this morning to decide what action to take in the coming days.
As part of the investigation gardaí also seized and are examining a blood-splattered car.
A key part of the investigation will be forensic evidence being taken from the car suspected of being central to the investigation.
Gardaí have recovered forensic samples from the car which include blood.
A warrant to examine the car was granted by Judge Brendan O’Reilly at Monday’s sitting of Letterkenny District Court.
Since then Gardai have been examining the car as they try to form a bigger picture of what exactly may have happened.
A house in the Killybegs area has also been sealed off since Monday.
Forensics officers are at the house and are carrying out a search of the property.
Gardaí are continuing to request that any witnesses come forward, with anyone who was travelling in the Sliabh Liag area on Saturday and Saturday and who may have dash cam footage asked to contact gardaí in Ballyshannon.
- With reporting by Stephen Maguire and Niall O’Connor
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