LAST UPDATE | 8 Jul 2020

GARDAÍ SAID THEY have arrested three people over the 2015 murders of Willie Maughan and Ana Varslavane. 

The couple went missing from Laytown in Meath in April 2015. It was originally a missing persons case but was upgraded to a murder probe in Septemeber 2016.

Their bodies have never been found.
 
Two men, aged in their 50s and 60s, and one woman, aged in her 40s, are currently detained at Garda Stations in counties Meath and Dublin under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.

This evening, gardaí confirmed that a fourth person had been arrested. The man is in his 20s and was arrested in Dublin. 
 
There were searches this morning at a location in Meath, but all have now been completed for the day. 

Gardaí investigating the murders have always believed that one of the main people involved in the Drogheda feud was suspected of ordering the murders.

It has always been the belief of Willie’s father, Joe, that gangland elements had ordered his son to do something on their behalf and that Willie was killed when he refused to do it. 

Officers have conducted a number of search operations for the couple and have received various tip-offs. 

In 2017, an area was sealed off in Louth after gardaí received credible intelligence as to the possible whereabouts of the couple’s bodies. Joe has always said he wants to give his son and his girlfriend a proper burial.

A garda spokesman said: “Gardaí are continuing to appeal to anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact them at Ashbourne Garda Station on 01 801 0600 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.”