Mary Boyle case: Gardai confirm review under way

Mary was just six years old when she vanished close to her grandparents’ cottage in the remote rural Cashelard region outside Ballyshannon in south Donegal.

She had been visiting relatives with her parents and siblings when she disappearance on March 18, 1977. No trace of her has ever been found.

The investigation into her disappearance is Ireland’s longest running missing child case.

A Garda spokesperson said the disappearance of Mary Boyle remains “under active investigation as it has been since Mary disappeared and that investigation will continue”.

The spokesperson said: “Any new information that is reported to An Garda Síochána, in relation to an ongoing investigation, will be investigated accordingly.

“As well as the investigation at the time there have been two reviews by An Garda Síochána into Mary’s disappearance. The latest began in 2011 and is being undertaken by a Review Team from the Northern Region.

“The Review team has to date conducted a significant investigation that has involved interviewing a wide range of people and undertaking a number of searches with the assistance of forensic and geology experts. Its investigation is ongoing.

“The Serious Crime Review team has recently been tasked to review the case. The Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) was established in August 2007 to review unresolved homicides and other serious crimes within the State.

“The primary purpose of a review is to assist Senior Investigation Officers who are investigating a serious crime by identifying new and potential investigative opportunities. Members of the SCRT are trained in homicide investigation and in the reviewing of unresolved homicides.

“The SCRT comes under the command of the Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services and the Office of the Detective Chief Superintendent, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

“The head of the Serious Crime Review Team is Detective Superintendent Walter O’Sullivan.”