A murder investigation has been launched into the disappearance of Annie McCarrick 30 years ago.

Gardaí confirmed this morning they were upgrading the investigation into a murder inquiry.

Ms McCarrick was 26 years old when she disappeared on March 26^th, 1993.

Originally from Long Island in New York, she had been studying and working in Ireland for several years before her disappearance.

Annie McCarrick. Image: An Garda Síochána

Speaking during a fresh Garda appeal this morning, Detective Superintendent Eddie Carroll said investigators wish to speak to anyone who “met, spoke with or had any interaction with Annie McCarrick on March 26th, 1993, or in the following days.

He said there are still people out there who have information on her murder and disappearance who haven’t come forward or have already been interviewed but were “not in a position to tell everything that they knew at that time”.

"I want to speak with any person who has any information on the large brown handbag which it is believed that Annie was in possession of when she went missing,” he said.

He noted that Annie’s father John died not knowing what happened to his daughter and her mother “deserves to know the truth”.

“She is waiting 30 years for those answers,” he said.

“I appeal to any person who have information relative to Annie’s murder not to assume we know and/or that it has limited value.  Let us make that decision.”

Annie McCarrick. Image: An Garda Síochána

Annie is described as being 5'8" in height and around 10 stone with long brown hair.

She spoke with a soft Irish-American accent.

When Annie disappeared, it is believed she was in possession of a large brown leather bag.

Tracker dogs are used in the search for Annie McCarrick outside Johnnie Fox’s Pub in April 1993, where she was last seen. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Gardaí have also published a detailed account of Ms McCarrick’s last known movements.

Ms McCarrick moved to Ireland to live permanently in January 1993 after “falling in love” with the country on a school trip as a teenager.

On St Patrick’s Day 1993, she attended the parade with friends.

Over the next few days, she continued her everyday life working, socialising in various licensed premises and visiting friends.

On Thursday, March 25th, she was not working but called to her place of work to collect her wages.

Her wages were not ready and she arranged to call again on Friday 26th to collect her wages. She then visited friends and stayed for dinner.

March 26th

On Friday, March 26th, Annie spoke to both her flatmates before they left separately to travel home for the weekend.

Shortly before 11am, Annie visited the AIB on Sandymount Road to carry out some personal banking.

This is the last confirmed sighting of her captured on CCTV.

Annie McCarrick last CCTV image. Image: An Garda Síochána

There are further reported sightings of her in the Sandymount Green area, boarding a No 44 bus for Enniskerry and several more reported sightings in Enniskerry village and Johnny Fox’s pub.

Annie had made arrangements with friends, inviting them to her apartment for dinner the next day Saturday, March 27th.

She was also excited, planning for a visit by her mother Nancy, due to arrive on March 30th, 1993.

Missing

By March 28th, Annie’s friends were concerned for her welfare.

She was not at home on Saturday 27th when they called for the dinner invite and she had not turned up for work either on Saturday 27th or on the morning of Sunday 28th.

A friend called to her apartment on the evening of the 28th and spoke with her flatmates.

Groceries she had purchased on the morning of Friday 26th March 1993, in Quinnsworth, Sandymount Road, had been left unpacked in shopping bags.

A receipt in the bags confirm the date and time of purchase as 26/03/1993 11:02am.

Annie McCarrick’s receipt. Image: An Garda Síochána

This is the last confirmed activity by Annie McCarrick.

Annie was reported missing by a friend on the evening of the 28th March at Irishtown Garda Station.

This missing person report was confirmed by her mother Nancy when she arrived in Dublin on March 30th.