Ireland Case No. 3373Murder · Co. Meath · 14 Apr 2015
Gormanston double murder under investigation as parents renew appeal
Willie Maughan, 34, and his pregnant partner Ana Varslavane, 21, were last seen alive on 14 April 2015 near the compound of crime boss Cornelius Price in Gormanston, Co Meath, where they had been living in a caravan. Detectives believe the couple were abducted and murdered at the compound, with Price personally using a claw hammer, and that their bodies were incinerated with ashes buried on site. The case was upgraded to a murder investigation in September 2016, seven people were arrested, and in November 2022 Price and gang member Owen Maguire were named in a High Court affidavit. Price died in 2023 from a brain disease, and a 2024 Garda search at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, Co Dublin, found no remains. In April 2026, the victims' parents renewed their public appeal on the 11-year anniversary of the disappearances.
- Reported5 Jan
6 reports - Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Willie Maughan, 34, and his pregnant partner Ana Varslavane, 21, were last seen alive on 14 April 2015 near Cornelius Price's compound in Gormanston, Co Meath.
- Detectives believe the couple were abducted and murdered at Price's compound, and their bodies incinerated with ashes buried on site.
- Where
- The couple had been living in a caravan in Gormanston, Co Meath, and planned to move to Tallaght, Dublin.
- Weapon
- Gardaí believe Price personally carried out the murders using a claw hammer.
- Cause
- Gardaí believe Price ordered the murders because he feared Maughan would reveal information about the 2014 killing of Benny Whitehouse, 35, who was shot dead in Balbriggan town centre.
- Investigation
- The case was upgraded to a murder investigation in September 2016, and seven people have been previously arrested.
- A Garda search of open lands at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, Co Dublin, commenced on 15 November 2024 with excavation and forensic examinations, but the couple's remains were not found.
- In court
- In November 2022, Price and gang member Owen Maguire were named in a High Court affidavit as believed to have carried out the double murder.
- Other details
- Cornelius Price, 41, died in 2023 from a brain disease in a hospital, and Owen Maguire is paralysed in a wheelchair after being shot in 2018.
- The victims' parents, Joe, 71, and Helen, 67, renewed their public appeal in April 2026 on the 11-year anniversary of the disappearances.
73 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWillie Maughan, 34, and his pregnant partner Ana, 21, were last seen alive in the Gormanston area of Co Meath on 14 April 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe couple were murdered but their remains have never been found. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe murder gang pushed a false story that William and Ana were murdered, cut up and burnt, with body pieces thrown in different areas. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatOwen Maguire is paralysed in a wheelchair after being shot in 2018 by Robbie Lawlor. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCornelius Price remains gravely ill in a UK hospital with an autoimmune disease. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNell heard women's voices and children's voices in the background when she picked up the phone. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe bodies were incinerated at the compound and ashes buried there. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWillie had lived in a caravan on the site and was planning to move back to his native Tallaght with his pregnant partner. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCornelius Price died from a brain disease over a week before the article was published. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBenny Whitehouse, 35, was shot dead in the Balbriggan town centre after dropping his daughter off to school. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe assassination of Whitehouse was carried out by an English hitman brought in and paid for by Price. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatWillie Maughan, 34, and Ana Varslavane, 21, were last seen alive and never seen again. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDetectives believe the couple were abducted and murdered. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí began a search of open lands in north County Dublin in the investigation into the disappearance and murder of William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane. (garda.ie)
- whatWillie Maughan was 34 when last seen alive (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAnastasija Varslavane was 21 and pregnant when last seen alive (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe couple planned to move to Tallaght, Dublin, to live with family (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatCornelius Price and members of his gang are believed to have murdered the couple and buried them in bog land (irishmirror.ie)
- whereBoth William and Anastasija were last seen alive at a property belonging to Mr Price. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe Maughans live in Tallaght, South Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple was lured to Price's compound in Gormanstown, Co Meath, where they were murdered and their bodies disposed of on 14 April 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple were murdered at Price's large fortified compound at Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple were last seen near Price's compound at Gormanston, Co Meath. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple lived in a caravan in Gormanston, Co. Meath. (garda.ie)
- whereThe couple was living in a caravan in Gormanstwon, Co Meath (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe couple had been living in a caravan in Gormanstwon, Co Meath. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenWilliam rang Nell at around twenty-five to two with Ana's phone. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenIt will be eight years since the couple's disappearance in April 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe couple vanished in April 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe couple were last seen on Tuesday, 14 April 2015. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenWilliam Maughan and Anna Varslavane were reported last seen on Tuesday 14 April 2015. (garda.ie)
- whenWilliam and Anna got a taxi from Balbriggan to Gormanston shortly after 2.30pm on 14 April 2015. (garda.ie)
- whenThe couple was last seen alive on 14 April 2015 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenCornelius Price died in 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenWillie Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane were last seen alive on 14 April 2015. (dublinlive.ie)
- causePrice took exception to Maughan moving away and feared he would leak information on the murder of Benny Whitehouse. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe the pair fell out because Maughan wanted to move back to west Dublin with Ana. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGardaí believe Price ordered the couple killed because he feared they would reveal his criminal empire. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponGardaí believe Price personally carried out the murders using a claw hammer. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe the bodies of Willie Maughan and Ana Varslavane will never be found. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDetectives suspect about five people know the truth of what happened to the couple. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí believe the couple were killed at Price's compound on the day they went missing. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí have searched various places for the remains based on false information leaked by the gang. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí suspect four to five people know exactly what happened and were involved but will never say a word. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPrice was seen standing and laughing while Gardaí searched an area near Stamullen, Co Meath, for the couple. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPrice deliberately leaked false information that led Gardaí to search the wrong areas. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí suspect the couple were murdered on the Price compound and their bodies disposed of there. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA search of a quarry lake in Drogheda found no bodies. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSome people previously questioned by gardaí refused to talk. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí asked anyone with information to contact Ashbourne Garda Station. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe search is carried out by the Garda investigation team, supported by the Meath Divisional search team and the Garda Technical Bureau. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe area will be excavated and subjected to technical and forensic examinations over the coming days. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is run by the Serious Crime Unit, Meath Division, led by a Senior Investigation Officer at an incident room in Ashbourne Garda Station. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe case was upgraded to a murder investigation after a review in September 2016. (garda.ie)
- investigationSeven people have previously been arrested in connection with the case. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí appeal to anyone with information to contact Ashbourne Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line. (garda.ie)
- investigationGardaí searched land on Ring Commons, Balrothery East, Co Dublin, in 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationA Garda search of land on Ring Commons, Balrothery East, Co Dublin, was carried out in 2024 but the couple's remains were not found. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtIn November 2022, the gang of Drogheda mob boss Maguire and Price were named as believed to have carried out the murders. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA Garda Detective Inspector stated in a High Court affidavit that members of the Price-Maguire OGC carried out the double murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherJoe Maughan is 68 and Nell is 64. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCornelius Price, aged 41, died in a Welsh hospital from a brain injury on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe parents have heard different versions of how the couple was killed, including being shot, beaten to death, or hit by a car. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPrice sent men to Helen Maughan's house to threaten her. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWillie was moving back to Tallaght at the time of his disappearance. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA Garda source described Cornelius Price as a very dangerous individual with no moral compass. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWillie's mother Nell says she wants her son's body so she can give him a Christian burial. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherCornelius Price died from a brain illness a few weeks before this article. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- otherCrime boss Cornelius Price, who died in 2023, and members of his gang are believed to have murdered the couple. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherWillie Maughan's parents are Joe, 71, and Helen, 67. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherWillie Maughan has two daughters, Whitney, 22, and Cindy, 16. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherThe couple is believed to have been buried in bog land. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Apr2026Parents of murdered Willie Maughan warn killers that 'God will deal with them'
Parents Joe and Helen Maughan issue a public appeal on the 11-year anniversary of the murders, asking anyone with information to come forward. They note that Cornelius Price, the primary suspect, has died, and that a 2024 Garda search at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, Co Dublin, did not find the bodies.
victim, Willie Maughan, 34, 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 - 12 Apr2026Parents of murdered Willie Maughan warn killers that 'God will deal with them'
Parents' appeal for information on the location of the bodies ahead of the 11-year anniversary; references a 2024 Gardaí search at Ring Commons, Balrothery East, Co Dublin, which did not find the remains.
victim, Willie Maughan, 34, 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 - 1 Nov2024Update – Disappearance and Murder of William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane
Update on an existing unpublished-in-cases investigation: a search of open lands begins on 15 November 2024, with excavation and forensic work planned, and an appeal for information. The article says 7 people were previously arrested, with no new arrests reported. It places the search in north County Dublin while the case concerns Gormanston, Co Meath.
victim, William Maughan, irish (judged from name)William Maughanvictim, Anastasija VarslavaneAnastasija Varslavane - 19 Apr2023Gardai renew appeal for couple believed to have been killed in crime boss order
Adds a renewed Garda appeal, the last-seen timing and location, and the suspected motive and location linked to Cornelius Price.
victim, Willie Maughan, 34, irish (judged from name)Willie Maughanvictim, Ana Varslavane, 21, non-irish (judged from name)Ana Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price - 26 Feb2023Gardai believe couple killed on orders of Cornelius Price will never be found
New details from a Garda source that the bodies were incinerated at Price's compound and ashes buried there; Cornelius Price died from a brain disease; background on the murder of Benny Whitehouse by an English hitman paid by Price; Price deliberately leaked false information that led Gardaí to search near Stamullen.
victim, Willie Maughan, 34, male, irish (judged from name)Willie Maughanvictim, Ana Varslavane, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ana Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Pricevictim, Benny Whitehouse, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Benny Whitehouse - 21 Feb2023Gardaí believe late mobster Cornelius Price murdered couple with claw hammer
New intelligence that Price personally carried out the murders using a claw hammer; Price's death in a Welsh hospital; family statements about years of intimidation, the motive linked to Benny Whitehouse's 2014 killing, and an appeal for witnesses to come forward now that Price is dead.
victim, Willie Maughan, male, irish (judged from name)Willie Maughanvictim, Ana Varslavane, female, non-irish (judged from name)Ana Varslavanesuspect, Cornelius Price, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Price - 5 Jan2023Mum of murdered Willie Maughan tells how mobster laughed at her
Follow-up interview with the victims' parents providing new details: a gang member laughed when Nell asked for the bodies; Ana's last words were 'help, help, help'; Nell heard women's and children's voices in the background; the Price-Maguire OGC were formally named in a High Court affidavit in November 2022; Maguire is paralysed after being shot by Lawlor in 2018 and Price is gravely ill in a UK hospital.
victim, Willie Maughan, 34, male, irish (judged from name)Willie Maughanvictim, 21, female, non-irish (judged from name)suspect, Cornelius Price, male, named, irish (judged from name)Cornelius Pricesuspect, Owen Maguire, male, named, irish (judged from name)Owen Maguire