Ireland Body of 1994 Bundoran murder victim still not found
Fifteen-year-old Arlene Arkinson went missing after a disco in Bundoran, Co Donegal, on 13 August 1994, and her body has never been found. She was last seen travelling in a car driven by Robert Howard, who was on bail for an alleged sex offence at the time. Howard was charged with her murder in 2002, acquitted in 2005, and died in prison in England in 2015 without revealing where her remains were. A 2021 inquest found Howard was responsible for her death on the balance of probability, and a fresh search in Glenfin, Co Donegal, in September 2024 was unsuccessful. The 32nd anniversary of her disappearance was marked in August 2026.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Fifteen-year-old Arlene Arkinson went missing after a disco in Bundoran, Co Donegal, and her body has never been found.
- Where
- She was last seen alive in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
- When
- She went missing on 13 August 1994.
- Cause
- A 2021 inquest found Robert Howard was responsible for her death on the balance of probability, with the mechanism of death unknown.
- Investigation
- She was last seen travelling in a car driven by Robert Howard, who was on bail for an alleged sex offence and broke his curfew by driving her to the disco.
- A fresh search for her remains was carried out in Ballybobaneen Forest, Glenfin, Co Donegal, in September 2024, without success.
- Charges
- Robert Howard was charged with Arlene Arkinson's murder in 2002.
- In court
- Robert Howard was acquitted at a murder trial in 2005.
- Other details
- Robert Howard died in prison in England in 2015 without revealing where Arlene's remains were located.
- A body exhumed in Co Sligo in 2018 was found not to be hers.
- Arlene's sister Kathleen Arkinson plans to visit Bundoran on the 32nd anniversary of her sister's disappearance in August 2026.
23 statements extracted from the articles
- whatArlene Arkinson went missing after a disco in Bundoran in 1994 and her body has never been found. (donegallive.ie)
- whereArlene Arkinson disappeared after a night out in Bundoran. (irishtimes.com)
- whereArlene was last seen alive in Bundoran. (donegallive.ie)
- whenArlene Arkinson went missing on 13 August 1994. (irishtimes.com)
- whenAugust 14 marks 32 years since Arlene's disappearance. (donegallive.ie)
- causeA 2021 inquest found that Robert Howard was responsible for Arlene Arkinson's death on the balance of probability. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe coroner said Howard killed her and the mechanism of death is unknown. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSearches for her body have been ongoing in Glenfin, Co Donegal. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí said they have no further information at this time. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationA fresh search is underway for the body of Arlene Arkinson. (extra.ie)
- investigationArlene was last seen with Robert Howard, who became the chief suspect in her disappearance. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationAn inquest in 2021 concluded that Howard was responsible for Arlene's murder. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationThe most recent search for Arlene's remains was in September 2024. (donegallive.ie)
- investigationGardaí searched an area of Ballybobaneen Forest in the Glenfin area for her remains, without success. (donegallive.ie)
- chargeRobert Howard was charged with Arlene Arkinson's murder in 2002. (irishtimes.com)
- courtRobert Howard was acquitted in 2005. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThere was a murder trial in 2005. (donegallive.ie)
- otherRobert Howard died in prison in England in 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- otherArlene Arkinson's body has never been found despite extensive searches. (irishtimes.com)
- otherA body exhumed in Co Sligo in 2018 was found not to be hers. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe headline describes Arlene Arkinson's death as murder by a child killer. (extra.ie)
- otherAt the time of her disappearance, Howard was on bail for an alleged sex offence and broke his curfew by driving her to the disco. (donegallive.ie)
- otherHoward died in prison in England in 2015 without revealing where Arlene's remains were located. (donegallive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Aug2026Murder victim's sister plans to visit Bundoran, where she was last seen
Feature on the 32nd anniversary of Arlene Arkinson's 1994 disappearance. Her sister plans to visit Bundoran, and the article summarises the inquest finding, the 2005 trial and the most recent search.
victim, Arlene Arkinson, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Arlene Arkinsonsuspect, Robert Howard, 71, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Howard - 11 Sep2024Fresh search underway for body of teen Arlene Arkinson 'murdered by child killer'
Only the headline is available: the article body contains search-widget template code, not news text. It reports a fresh search for the body of Arlene Arkinson, dated 11 September 2024, which matches existing case 5125. The location and suspect are not stated in the available text.
victim, Arlene Arkinson, irish (judged from name)Arlene Arkinson - 11 Sep2024Gardaí carry out fresh searches for body of Arlene Arkinson in Co Donegal
Gardaí searches for Arlene Arkinson's body in Glenfin, Co Donegal, about 30 years after she disappeared. Gives background on the 2021 inquest finding, Howard's 2002 charge and 2005 acquittal, and the failed 2018 Sligo exhumation.
victim, Arlene Arkinson, 15, female, irish (judged from name)Arlene Arkinsonaccused, Robert Howard, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Howard