Sister's plea: 30 years on, the search for Arlene Arkinson remains

Arlene Arkinson's sister, who went missing 30 years ago in Northern Ireland, said she will never lose hope that her body will be found. She told the BBC her sister deserves "to be found and get a decent burial."

The 15-year-old from Castlederg, Northern Ireland, disappeared in August 1994 after a night out in Bundoran, County Donegal. In July 2021, an inquest concluded that she was murdered by convicted child murderer and rapist Robert Howard, who died in 2015.

According to the BBC, the man was previously charged with her murder in 2002 but was acquitted in 2005.

In a speech marking the 30th anniversary of Arlene Arkinson's death, her sister said that Arlene deserves "to be found and get a decent burial" and that deep down, she believes that "some day Arlene will be found."

Numerous operations have been conducted in the search for Arkinson's remains, including in vast fields and forests near the Irish border.

One of the latest searches was conducted by An Garda Síochána (Irish police) in May 2024 in the Castlefin area in County Donegal.

Arlene has not been buried, but a special monument has been created in honour of the murdered girl. Kathleen Arkinson said she has mixed feelings about the memorial to her sister.

One day I'm alright, the next I'm not - I just can't believe it's been 30 years, she told the British press. I'm thinking about Arlene and that night - I know she suffered, but I just wish I could've taken the pain, she added.

When Arlene Arkinson disappeared, Robert Howard was at large. He was out on bail after a series of brutal sexual offences against another teenager. The man later died in prison at the age of 71. A subsequent investigation concluded that Howard was responsible for the murder of Arlene Arkinson.

Kathleen Arkinson stated that "the whole system let Arlene down," and their family still has many unanswered questions.