Missing woman 'murder arrest'

Attracta Harron was last seen walking to Mass

A 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a County Tyrone pensioner who went missing more than three months ago.

Attracta Harron, 65, from Strabane has been missing since 11 December 2003 after attending Mass in Lifford in County Donegal.

The man was arrested at 0700 GMT on Thursday and is being questioned at Antrim Police Station.

He is understood to be from the Sion Mills area of County Tyrone.

A police spokesperson said they were keeping an open mind on a possible motive, but it was not believed to be sectarian.

A number of items seized at the man's home are also being examined.

Major search

Despite a major police operation involving specially trained dogs and divers in rivers around Strabane, Mrs Harron's body has not been found.

The police staged a reconstruction of her last known movements, with a female officer wearing similar clothes walking the same route as the pensioner.

Detectives issued a number of appeals in an attempt to trace two motorists.

A red hatchback with a southern Irish registration plate was seen at Greenbrae about 1130 GMT on 11 December.

Detectives also want to trace a driver of a red-coloured car which sped past a tractor and trailer at Orchard Road, heading towards the border at about the same time.

Fourteen detectives have been assigned to the case.

They have been working closely with Gardai across the border in County Donegal.