Murder theory in missing case

Attracta Harron was last seen walking to Mass

Police investigating the disappearance of a County Tyrone woman more than two months ago have said she may have been murdered.

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

Police search teams with specially trained dogs and equipment were involved in fresh searches for her in rivers around Strabane on Thursday.

A search team from the South Yorkshire Police has been brought over for a three-day operation.

The dogs are highly trained and are covering a wide area in and around Strabane.

The PSNI has also hired a private company from England who will use the most up to date equipment in a bid to trace Mrs Harron.

This search team has the approval of the Irish Government to operate in Donegal, underlining the determination of both police forces to solve the case.

Detective Inspector John Gilmore said murder was now a definite line of inquiry.

"At this stage it is a matter of elimination," he said.

A search team from South Yorkshire Police has been brought in

"If nothing has come forward new as a result of this search operation we will then be focusing our inquiries more on the possibility that Attracta has been murdered.

"Whether by her own hand or by the hand of another, at this stage we have nothing to indicate that a crime has been committed."

At the time of her disappearance, Mrs Harron was wearing a red duffle-style coat and grey trousers. She is described as being 5ft 2ins, with shoulder-length blonde hair.

Her family said they were extremely worried by her "completely uncharacteristic" disappearance.