Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 8264Murder · Co. Donegal · 14 Aug 1994

Sister of Arlene Arkinson to visit Bundoran ahead of anniversary of her disappearance

Arlene Arkinson, 15, went missing after a disco in Bundoran, Co Donegal, on 14 August 1994, and her body has never been found. She was last seen alive with Robert Howard, who became the chief suspect; at the time he was on bail for an alleged sex offence. A murder trial was held in 2005, and Howard died in prison in England in 2015 without revealing where her remains were. An inquest in 2021 concluded that Howard was responsible for her murder, and the most recent search for her remains took place in September 2024. On the 32nd anniversary of her disappearance, her sister Kathleen Arkinson plans to visit Bundoran this week.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Arlene Arkinson, 15, went missing after a disco in Bundoran in 1994 and her body has never been found.
Where
Arlene was last seen alive in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
When
Her disappearance occurred on 14 August 1994, and 14 August 2026 marks 32 years since.
Investigation
  • Arlene was last seen with Robert Howard, who became the chief suspect in her disappearance.
  • An inquest in 2021 concluded that Howard was responsible for Arlene's murder.
  • Gardaí searched an area of Ballybobaneen Forest in the Glenfin area for her remains without success.
  • The most recent search for Arlene's remains took place in September 2024.
Other details
  • At the time, Howard was on bail for an alleged sex offence and broke his curfew by driving Arlene to the disco.
  • Howard died in prison in England in 2015 without revealing where Arlene's remains were located.
  • Her sister, Kathleen Arkinson, has not visited Bundoran since 1994 and plans to visit this week to release yellow roses into the sea in memory of her.
In court
A murder trial was held in 2005.
10 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 was last seen alive in Bundoran. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenAugust 14 marks 32 years since Arlene's disappearance. (donegallive.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)
  • courtThere was a murder trial in 2005. (donegallive.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
  1. 13 Aug2026
    Otherdonegallive.ie, first report
    Murder 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