A man (61) accused of murdering a schoolgirl who vanished more than ten years ago went on trial today.
Robert Lesarian Howard denies the murder of 15-year-old Arlene Arkinson, of Castlederg, Co Tyrone, who disappeared after a night out across the Border at Bundoran, Co Donegal, in August 1994.
Despite extensive searches on both sides of the border, her body has never been found.
Mr Howard also faces four charges of perverting the course of justice by either allegedly telling lies about the girl's disappearance or getting others to tell lies on his behalf.
Opening the case for the prosecution at Belfast Crown Court, Gordon Kerr QC, said that on the night the girl disappeared she had gone out with Mr Howard, his girlfriend's daughter and the daughter's boyfriend.
He said the last time the girl was seen alive was when he drove off alone with her in the early hours of Sunday morning after the night out.
Mr Kerr said on Saturday August 13th, 1994, a loose arrangement had been made for Patricia Quinn, her daughter Donna, and Donna's boyfriend, Sean Heggarty, to go across the Border for drinks, with Mr Howard driving them.
The court would hear that despite Arlene being three years younger than Donna Quinn they were friends and Arlene was also picked up for the night out, he said.
Evidence will be given that Donna and Sean were dropped off by Mr Howard at the boyfriend's house outside Castlederg and that Mr Howard drove off at around 2.30am with Arlene in his car, the court was told.
"Donna has never seen Arlene again since that time," said Mr Kerr.
The following day Donna had returned to her home for a change of clothes but didn't speak to the accused. It was not until the following Wednesday when she returned home again that she spoke to Mr Howard and asked him where he had left Arlene, said Mr Kerr.
She was told by Mr Howard that he had dropped the teenager at her sister's home but the next day he changed his story to say he had left her outside a bar in the middle of Castlederg, claiming she hadn't wanted to be seen in his car, the court heard.