The RUC and the Garda on both sides of the Border in the north-west have asked men who live along a stretch of the Tyrone-Donegal Border to submit voluntarily to a DNA swab test. The joint RUC-Garda appeal has been issued by detectives investigating the rape and subsequent death of 91-year-old Ms Mary Ann McLaughlin, who was attacked in her home near Castlederg, Co Tyrone, eight weeks ago.
The RUC said Ms McLaughlin, who died two weeks ago, had been subjected to a "horrifically dreadful assault" in her isolated mobile home about two miles from Castlederg. "We will be testing about 250 men between the ages of 16 and 70 as part of our intensive investigation into the murder of Ms McLaughlin," said RUC Supt Richard Russell. "This was a sickening, depraved attack on a frail and defenceless old lady and we are determined to do everything we can to apprehend whoever was responsible.
"This initiative is the first time we have used voluntary screening in a major inquiry. It is a system which has been used by detectives in England and on the Continent as part of their investigations into sex attacks and other serious crimes. At this stage we are asking men who live in a radius of three miles from the scene and since this area straddles the Border, we are working very closely with our colleagues in the Garda. At a later stage we may have to consider widening the screening area," said Supt Russell.