A man has been found not guilty of the murder of teenager Arlene Arkinson who disappeared in Bundoran more than 10 years ago.
A jury at Belfast Crown Court took almost 23 hours to find Robert Howard (61), not guilty of the 15-year-old schoolgirl's murder.
Arlene, from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, went missing after a night out in Bundoran, Co Donegal in August 1994. Her body has never been found.
Members of the Arkinson family stormed out of the courtroom as the verdict was read. Mr Howard, who is originally from Wolfhill, Co Laois, showed no emotion.
The prosecution claimed that Arlene was last seen alive getting into Howard’s car at the end of the evening. Howard has denied murdering her or having any knowledge of her whereabouts.
Mr Howard was cleared last week on one of four counts of perverting the course of justice over Arlene’s disappearance. The jury is still considering its verdict in relation to three further charges of perverting the course of justice in the case.
PA