Police in Northern Ireland have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Carrie Mullane, a 39-year-old woman from Limerick who travelled to Enniskillen last month, with no confirmed sightings of her since, while men charged in separate attempted murder cases are expected to appear in court.
Mullane was last confirmed seen at an address in Trasna Park, Enniskillen, at around 21:00 BST on 10 October, after arriving in the town with a man known to her. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said there have been no confirmed sightings of her since and she has not been in touch with family or friends. Det Supt Richard Thornton said: “Family and friends of Carrie tell us that she is usually in almost daily contact with them and not hearing from her has caused them to fear something may have happened to her after she reached Northern Ireland.”
Officers said there is “serious concern” that Mullane “may have been murdered sometime after her arrival in Northern Ireland”. They have found no evidence to verify an unconfirmed suggestion that she travelled to the Londonderry area on 11 October. After An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force, contacted the PSNI with concerns about her whereabouts on 29 October, officers carried out search enquiries that have not established where she is. The 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder; the investigation is ongoing and officers have appealed to the community for relevant information.
In a separate case, three men aged 31, 32 and 46 have been charged with attempted murder and a number of other offences after a man was stabbed in the Templepatrick Road area of Doagh, County Antrim, at around 11:10 BST on Thursday. The victim was taken to hospital with a number of stab wounds. The men are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday.
In west Belfast, a 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and a number of firearms offences over the shooting of a 49-year-old man as he sat in a taxi on the morning of 23 February 2025 in Bell Steel Manor, in the Dunmurry area. A PSNI spokesperson said: "He was arrested under the Terrorism Act and taken to Musgrave serious crime suite for questioning." The man, arrested in the Springfield Road area, is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court.
All charges in both attempted murder cases will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Mullane's family and friends have had no contact with her since 10 October, and the arrest is a significant development in a missing-person investigation that police fear is now a murder inquiry.
- The attempted murder cases involve serious violence, including a shooting investigated under terrorism legislation, and are now moving through the courts.
- All charges in the two attempted murder cases are subject to review by the Public Prosecution Service, so the charges could change before trial.
Background
The PSNI is the police force for Northern Ireland, while An Garda Síochána is the police force of the Republic of Ireland, and the two forces co-operate across the border. The Terrorism Act provides powers for arrest and questioning in connection with terrorism-related offences.
What to Watch
- The three men charged over the Doagh stabbing are due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday.
- The man charged over the Dunmurry shooting is expected before the same court, and the Public Prosecution Service will review the charges in both cases.
- The PSNI investigation into Mullane's disappearance remains open, with officers seeking any relevant information from the public.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline says a man was arrested on suspicion of murder over the missing woman.BBC Northern Ireland: “Police investigating the disappearance of a 39-year-old woman have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of her murder.”
- SupportedThe headline says four men face attempted murder charges.BBC Northern Ireland: “Three men have been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing in County Antrim.”
- SupportedThe summary attributes serious concern that Mullane may have been murdered after arriving in Northern Ireland to the PSNI.BBC Northern Ireland: “They added that there is now "serious concern" that Mullane "may have been murdered sometime after her arrival in Northern Ireland".”
- SupportedMullane is 39, from Limerick, and travelled to Enniskillen last month.BBC Northern Ireland: “Carrie Mullane (Noonan), who is from Limerick, is known to have travelled to Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, on 10 October.”
- SupportedThe PSNI arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of Mullane’s murder.BBC Northern Ireland: “Police investigating the disappearance of a 39-year-old woman have arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of her murder.”
- SupportedThornton said: “Family and friends of Carrie tell us that she is usually in almost daily contact with them and not hearing from her has caused them to fear something may have happened to her after she reached Northern Ireland.”BBC Northern Ireland: “Det Supt Richard Thornton said: "Family and friends of Carrie tell us that she is usually in almost daily contact with them and not hearing from her has caused them to fear something may have happened to her after she reached Northern Ireland."”
- SupportedMullane was last confirmed seen at an address in Trasna Park at around 21:00 BST on 10 October, after arriving in Enniskillen with a man known to her.BBC Northern Ireland: “Police have said that, after arriving in Enniskillen with a man known to her on 10 October, Mullane and her companion travelled from the bus depot on Wellington Road to an address in Trasna Park at around 21:00 BST. They said this is the last confirmed sighting of Mullane”
- SupportedThere have been no confirmed sightings of Mullane since, and she has not been in touch with family or friends.BBC Northern Ireland: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said there have been no confirmed sightings of her since that date, and she has not been in touch with family or friends.”
- SupportedPolice found no evidence to verify suggestions that Mullane travelled to the Londonderry area on 11 October.BBC Northern Ireland: “Police added that there had been suggestions that Mullane travelled to the Londonderry area on 11 October, however, they had not found any evidence to verify this.”
- SupportedAn Garda Síochána contacted the PSNI about Mullane’s whereabouts on 29 October, and searches have not established where she is.BBC Northern Ireland: “After An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) contacted the PSNI with concerns regarding Mullane's whereabouts on 29 October, officers implemented a number of search enquiries. Police have said these enquiries have not established her whereabouts.”
- SupportedThree men aged 31, 32 and 46 were charged with attempted murder and other offences after a stabbing in Doagh around 11:10 BST on Thursday; they are expected in court on Monday.BBC Northern Ireland: “The incident occurred in the Templepatrick Road area of Doagh around 11:10 BST on Thursday. All three men, aged 31, 32 and 46, have been charged with a number of offences including attempted murder. They are expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday.”
- SupportedA 24-year-old man was charged with attempted murder and firearms offences over the shooting of a 49-year-old man in a taxi in Bell Steel Manor, Dunmurry, on 23 February 2025; he is expected in Belfast Magistrates Court.RTÉ News: “Later, the arrested man was charged with attempted murder and a number of firearms offences. He is expected to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court.”