Case No. 2902Murder (missing person, case upgraded to murder) · Co. Dublin · 1 Apr 2015

Garda search for missing couple William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane stood down

A garda search of open lands in Ring Commons, Balrothery East, north Co Dublin, for William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane, who disappeared in April 2015, has been stood down after failing to yield any information. The case was upgraded to a murder inquiry in 2016, and gardaí believe the couple were abducted, shot dead and their bodies concealed by a Co Louth-based gang led by Cornelius Price.

  1. Reported15 Nov
    9 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
89 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatWillie Maughan, 34, and his pregnant partner Ana Varslavane, 21, were last seen in 2015 in Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWhen William's mother arrived at Gormanston shortly before 3pm, she was unable to find her son or his girlfriend. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí began a search of open lands in north county Dublin on Friday 15 November 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCornelius Price died from a brain disease in a Welsh hospital in February 2023 (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whatPrice was heavily involved in organised crime and suspected of being responsible for at least six murders (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatWillie Maughan was 34 and pregnant Anastasija Varslavane was 21 when last seen alive on 14 April 2015. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whatThe search is for Willie Maughan, 24, and his pregnant partner Anastasija Varslavane, 21. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThey lived in a caravan in Gormanston, Meath (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereAt the time, the couple had been living in a caravan in the Gormanston area. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe couple were living in a caravan in Gormanston, Co Meath (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe bog land at Ring Commons in Balrothery East in north County Dublin is being searched and subjected to excavation as well as technical and forensic examinations. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe couple had been living in a caravan in Gormanston, Co Meath. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe search site is around 12 kilometres from a compound once owned by Cornelius Price in Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe search took place at an area of bog land at Ring Commons in Balrothery East. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereGardaí began a search of open lands in north Co Dublin the previous Friday. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe search took place in Ring Commons, Balrothery East. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe search took place at an area adjacent to land once owned by Cornelius Price. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whereThe area of bog land at Ring Commons in Balrothery East was subject to excavation. (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenThe couple have been missing since April 2015 (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenOn the morning of Tuesday 14 April 2015 William went to Balbriggan followed shortly afterwards by Anastasija (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenWilliam spoke to his mother at about 2.30pm and asked her to travel to Gormanston to collect them (dublinlive.ie)
  • whenOn the morning of Tuesday, April 14, William went to Balbriggan followed shortly afterwards by Anastasija. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThey were last heard from at around 2.30pm following a taxi ride from Balbriggan to Gormanston. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe couple disappeared without trace on 14 April 2015. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenBenny Whitehouse, 36, was shot on Clonard Street in Balbriggan on 25 September 2014. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOn the morning of 14 April 2015, Maughan went to Balbriggan, followed shortly afterwards by Varslavane. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMaughan spoke to his mother at about 2.30pm and asked her to collect them at Gormanston. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenWillie, 34, and pregnant Ana, 21 were last seen on April 14, 2015 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe couple were last seen on 14 April 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe search was launched on Friday, 15 November 2024. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • whenGardaí announced the search had been stood down on Tuesday evening, 19 November 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe couple was last seen in April 2015. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeDetectives believe Price feared Maughan was about to go to gardaí and implicate him in the 2014 gun murder of Benny Whitehouse. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe missing couple are believed to have been brutally murdered by Cornelius Price in April 2015. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí began searching open lands in north county Dublin on 15 November 2024 (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe area will be subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationThe case was upgraded to a murder investigation in September 2016 (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationSeven people have been previously arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí launched a new search in north County Dublin as part of the investigation into the 2015 disappearance and double murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationTeams will conduct excavations, forensic examinations and technical analyses over the next several days. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search is being carried out by the Garda investigation team supported by the Meath Divisional search team and the Garda Technical Bureau. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationIn 2016, following a review of the case, it was upgraded to a murder investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSeven people have been previously arrested in connection with their disappearance and murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing to the public for information, noting that with nearly a decade having passed, some people may now be in a position to come forward. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSeven arrests have been made in the case to date but no criminal charges have been brought. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe case was upgraded to a murder investigation following a review in September 2016. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is being carried out by the Serious Crime Unit, Meath Division, led by a senior investigation officer based at Ashbourne Garda station. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe bog land at Ring Commons in Balrothery East will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA digger and a number of gardaí commenced a dig at one of the areas of interest (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe investigation is being led by a senior investigation officer based at Ashbourne Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationSeven people have been previously arrested in connection with the case (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationDespite numerous searches over the years, the couple's remains have not yet been found (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe search was prompted by a tip-off received in recent weeks. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationA digger and a number of gardai commenced a dig at one of the areas of interest. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí commenced their third day of combing boglands in Balrothery East, North Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe area being searched was identified after Gardaí received new information in recent weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí stood down a multi-day search operation on open lands in north Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe site was subject to excavation and technical and forensic examinations over the weekend. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationOn Monday, officers were seen combing the site and taking away evidence bags. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationNothing of evidential value was located during the search operation. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí continue to appeal for information in relation to the disappearance and murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA garda search for the missing couple has been stood down after failing to yield any information. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe case was upgraded to a murder inquiry in 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationSeven people have been arrested by gardaí investigating the case to date. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationTechnical and forensic examinations were carried out over the weekend. (dublinlive.ie)
  • investigationOn Monday, officers combed the site and took away evidence bags. (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherWilliam and Anna had been together since 2014 (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherWilliam had decided to return to his family home in Tallaght with Anna (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherWilliam and Anna got a taxi from Balbriggan to Gormanston shortly after 2.30pm (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherHelen arrived in Gormanston just before 3pm but could not locate William (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherShe called his mobile phone but it went straight to message minder (dublinlive.ie)
  • otherThe families of William and Anastasija are being fully updated on developments. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí believe the couple were abducted, shot dead and their bodies concealed by a Co Louth-based gang led by Cornelius Price. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherWhitehouse's wife was wounded in the same attack, which was linked to an ongoing feud in the area. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherGardaí believe Price planned the abduction and murder of Maughan to ensure his silence, and Varslavane was killed because she was with him when he was attacked. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Drogheda gangland feud began in 2017 and claimed the lives of four people. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHelen Maughan arrived in Gormanston just before 3pm but could not locate her son, drove to Stamullen, and his mobile phone went straight to the message minder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherA Temporary Restricted Air Space has been put in place by the Irish Aviation Authority over the search area in Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCornelius Price died in the UK in February 2023 after being admitted to hospital in Wales in 2021 with limbic encephalitis. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherAt the time of his death, Price was on bail awaiting trial in London for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping and blackmail plot targeting two men. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLimerick criminal Ger Dundon was jailed for 10 years for his role in the same kidnapping and blackmail plot that Price was awaiting trial for. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCornelius Price died in a Welsh hospital in February 2023 after contracting a brain disease. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPrice and other members of his gang are suspected of killing the couple at his fortified compound. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRev Dr Alex Johnson is a pastor at Healing Nations Ministry in Liverpool, UK, who anointed Price on his deathbed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherJoe and Helen Maughan, along with their twin daughters, visited the search site on Saturday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherPrice fled to the UK in 2020 from his compound shortly after the murder and dismemberment of Drogheda teen Keane Mulready-Woods. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe search area was adjacent to land once owned by dead mobster Cornelius Price. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe couple are believed to have been brutally murdered by Cornelius Price in April 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí believe the couple were abducted, shot dead and their bodies concealed by a Co Louth-based gang led by Cornelius Price, who has since died. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Nov2024
    Multi-day search for Willie Maughan and Ana Varslavane stood down by Gardaí

    Reports that a multi-day search (15–19 November 2024) of bog land at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, was stood down after nothing of evidential value was located. Gardaí renewed their public appeal for information on the disappearance and murder.

    victim, William Maughan, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  2. 19 Nov2024
    Garda search for couple who disappeared a decade ago stood down

    The search of open lands in north Co Dublin has been stood down with nothing of evidential value located. Gardaí re-emphasise their appeal for information, noting that people's circumstances may have changed over the decade. Seven people have been arrested to date in the investigation.

    victim, William Maughan, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  3. 19 Nov2024
    Multi-day search for Willie Maughan and Ana Varslavane stood down by Gardaí

    Reports that the multi-day search at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, was stood down on 19 November 2024 with nothing of evidential value found, and that Gardaí have renewed their public appeal for information in the case.

    victim, William Maughan, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  4. 18 Nov2024
    Pastor prays search team 'will be guided' to missing couple’s remains

    Adds comments from Rev Dr Alex Johnson (who gave Price last rites) and from Joe Maughan who visited the search site; confirms the search is in its third day in Ring Commons, Balrothery East; states the search site is 12 km from Price's former compound in Gormanston, Co Meath, where the couple were last seen alive; notes Price died in a Welsh hospital in February 2023.

    victim, Willie Maughan, 24, male, irish (judged from name)Willie Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  5. 16 Nov2024
    Bog scoped for remains of couple adjacent to land once owned by suspected killer

    Describes the new search of bog land at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, for the couple's remains, noting it is adjacent to land once owned by Cornelius Price. A cadaver dog located three areas of interest and a dig was commenced. The search is led by a senior investigation officer at Ashbourne Garda Station. Price's daughter Alisha claims a 'major Dublin drug dealer' is responsible instead.

    victim, William Maughan, 34, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  6. 16 Nov2024
    Land search for murdered Willie & Ana beside plot once owned by suspected killer

    Reports on a new search of bog land at Ring Commons adjacent to land once owned by Cornelius Price, with details on the search methodology (cadaver dog, digger, excavation), the arrival of Willie's mother Helen, Price's daughter Alisha's claims that a 'major Dublin drug dealer' is the true killer, and confirmation that seven people have been previously arrested.

    victim, William Maughan, 34, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  7. 15 Nov2024
    Gardaí search Co Dublin lands amid inquiry into double murder of William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane

    New search of open lands in north Co Dublin with excavation and forensic examinations; details the timeline of the couple's last day, the theory linking the murders to the 2014 killing of Benny Whitehouse, and background on Cornelius Price's death in 2023 and the Drogheda gangland feud.

    victim, William Maughan, 35, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price
  8. 15 Nov2024
    Gardai begin major dig in Dublin for missing couple in nine-year murder mystery

    New search/dig commenced in north County Dublin with excavations, forensic examinations and technical analyses over several days; seven people previously arrested; families being updated; renewed public appeal for information.

    victim, William Maughan, 34, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavane
  9. 15 Nov2024
    New searches in Dublin over murder of William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane

    Reports new searches of open lands in north Dublin beginning 15 November 2024 with excavation and forensic examinations planned. Provides a detailed timeline of the couple's last known movements on 14 April 2015 and confirms seven people have been previously arrested in connection with the case.

    victim, William Maughan, male, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija Varslavane, female, non-irish (judged from name)Anastasija Varslavane