Teenage victim Arlene Arkinson was murdered 32 years ago this week
By Sean Murphy
A MURDER victim’s family will return to a Donegal seaside town where the innocent teenager was last seen before she died at the hands of a serial killer.
Arlene Arkinson was only 15 years old when she vanished without trace 32 years ago after going to a disco in Bundoran on August 14, 1994.
Evil sex offender Robert Howard was the chief suspect in her murder, but died 11 years ago without revealing the location of Arlene’s remains.
Her heartbroken sister Kathleen is now set to visit the Donegal resort town for the first time since the tragic death of schoolgirl Arlene, from Tyrone.
Kathleen told the Donegal News: “I haven’t been to Bundoran in 32 years. I’m going to the beach to release yellow roses.
“Yellow was her favourite colour. My brother is in Scotland and my sister isn’t well, so I’ve none of our family with me.
“But my son will be there with me to release the flowers into the sea.
“You never know, I might meet someone in Bundoran who knows something.
“I’m hoping that it might give me more strength, maybe it’ll bring a sense of closure.
“I know Arlene is not in Bundoran, I think she is buried in the North, but I am feeling drawn to it.
“Bundoran is the last place where I know Arlene was happy, so I have to go there.”
Kathleen Arkinson, pictured, will this week visit Bundoran for the first time since her sister Arlene disappeared.
Bundoran beach.
Evil child killer and rapist Howard, from Co Laois, died, aged 71, in 2015 without confessing – but a 14-year inquest ruled in 2021 that he killed Arlene in 1994.
At the time, he was on bail for an alleged sex offence and breached a curfew to drive her to the disco in Bundoran.
He was charged with sexually assaulting another teenage girl at his flat in Castlederg in 1994 before he killed Arlene.
He was also sentenced to 10 years in 1974 for twice raping a 58-year-old woman in her home over a five-hour period.
He was charged with Arlene’s murder in 2002, but was acquitted in 2005.
He got a life prison sentence in 2003 for the 2001 rape and murder of Hannah Williams, aged 14, in London.
Howard died in prison in England after a lifetime of violent sexual assault and murder.
In September 2024, gardai searched for Arlene’s remains at Ballybobaneen Forest in the Glenfin area, around 12km northwest of Ballybofey.
There was also a Garda search in the Castlefin area in May of that year.
Both areas are close to the border with Tyrone, where both Arlene and Howard lived in Castlederg.
A digger carefully makes is way through the undergrowth at the site in the Glenfin area in the search for Arlene Arkinson. Photo: Brian McDaid.
An inquest ruled in 2021 that evil child killer and rapist Robert Howard, from Co Laois, murdered Arlene Arkinson in 1994.
This week, Katheleen told the Donegal News: “I think people know where the specific spot is. People who knew Robert Howard must have this information.
“It hurts at this time of year because of Arlene’s anniversary. It doesn’t get easier, it gets harder.
“I can’t believe at times that it’s been 32 years. Where has the time gone?
“There were nine people in my family – mum and dad, plus seven children: two boys and five girls. But now all that is left is me, my sister Paula, and brother Adrian.
“All we ever talked about was Arlene. I am bitter. I hate that what happened to Arlene and my family.
“My dad [Willie] was heartbroken when he died. He was never off the phone, talking to people about Arlene.”
Five years before his youngest daughter disappeared, Willie’s wife died in 1990, when Arlene was just 10 years old.
Speaking after Arlene’s disappearance, he revealed that he would stay away at night, wondering about his daughter.
He said: “What happened to her? What way did she die? How long did it take her to die? Things like that are on my brain.”
Arlene Arkinson’s family unveiled a memorial in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, in August 2024 to mark the 30th anniversary of her disappearance. Kathleen Arkinson is pictured touching her sister’s picture.
APPEAL
Kathleen has now this week issued a fresh appeal to anyone with information to end the family’s nightmare and find Arlene’s remains.
She told the Donegal News: “Life would be much easier if we could find Arlene. Where is she? Where would he have buried her?
“My four children are now asking, ‘Where is Arlene?’ The pain has been passed to the next generation.
“Lies were told about Howard and people stayed quiet to protect him. Even now, years after his death, they are still keeping his secrets.
“But it is time to let it out, enough time has passed.
“We would appeal to anyone who has any information, no matter how small, to come forward.
“It may seem insignificant to you, but to us, it could be crucial and could help us to find Arlene.
“She deserves to rest like any child.”
Anyone with information can contact any Garda or PSNI station or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.