THE FAMILY OF murdered teenager Arlene Arkinson has been “in torment” in the years since her disappearance in 1994, the officer leading the investigation has said.

Searches will resume today for the remains of the 15-year-old, who was last seen near her home in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, after a disco in nearby Bundoran, Co Donegal. A 61-year-old man was tried over the killing in 2005, but was acquitted.

The PSNI said the renewed searches will initially cover the area of road where Arlene was last seen in the early hours of August 14 1994, with the aim of recovering the schoolgirl’s remains as well as finding new leads for the investigation. Police teams will later comb a number of other locations associated with the investigation.

Detective Supt Raymond Murray, the officer leading the investigation, said: “On a personal level, Arlene’s family has been in torment for 17 years. We want to do everything we possibly can to reunite Arlene with her family. Arlene’s sisters and brothers have suffered for too long.

Despite the considerable time gap and the challenges involved in locating remains, we will do everything we possibly can to achieve this.

Arlene’s sister Kathleen told BBC News: “Arlene is lying out there and it’s not fair and all we want to do is bring her home.”

The PSNI are appealing for anyone who saw a blue Metro car in the Scraghy Road area of Castlederg on August 14, 1994, to make contact with them.

Read more: Search for Arlene’s remains resumes tomorrow>