Police trying to trace murdered woman’s last movements

Police investigating the murder of missing Belfast woman Saoirse Smyth are trying to trace her last movements, saying her family deserves to know what happened to her.

The 28-year-old, originally from west Belfast, was last seen in the city on 11 April 2017.

She had moved to Omeath in Co Louth and is believed to have returned there later that day.

Ms Smyth was reported missing in December 2017, along with a friend who was later found safe and well in the Republic of Ireland.

Detectives say they are considering several lines of enquiry and want to hear from anyone who knows anything about Ms Smyth – including where she was living and with whom.

A 40-year-old man has been released on police bail after being arrested in Newry and questioned on suspicion of murder.

A woman, aged 48, was arrested in June and also released on bail.

Police had been investigating Ms Smyth’s disappearance, but say information obtained by officers – along with the missing woman’s failure to respond to pleas from her family on social media – leads them to believe she has been murdered.

She has not had any contact with her family or friends, including on significant dates like her birthday and Christmas, which they say is very unusual.

Ms Smyth’s friends say she was a troubled young woman battling drug addiction.

Her life had been blighted by loss as her mother died when she was a little girl.

And, in 2015, her sister-in-law was stabbed to death in her west Belfast home.

The family is now having to come to terms with another tragedy.

The PSNI is working closely with An Garda Síochána on the case and an address in Omeath is being searched in connection with the disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives on 101, or +44 28 90 650 222 if calling from RoI.