Gardai commence new search of lands in connection with the disappearance and murder of William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane

Gardaí investigating the disappearance and murder of Meath couple William Maughan and Anastasija Varslavane in 2015 have commenced a search of open lands in north County Dublin.

The search is being carried out by the Garda investigation team supported by the Meath Divisional search team and the Garda Technical Bureau. The area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.

A Temporary Restricted Air Space directive has been put in place by the Irish Aviation Authority in respect of the search area in north Co Dublin.

The investigation is being carried out by the Serious Crime Unit, Meath Division and is led by a Senior Investigation Officer based out of an incident room at Ashbourne Garda Station.

A Garda spokesperson said An Garda Síochána have been and continue to keep the family fully updated in relation to this investigation and they have been fully appraised of all of today's developments.

"Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone with information in relation to the disappearance and murder of William Maughan and Anna Varslavane to speak with investigating Gardai.

"Given the passage of time since their disappearance individuals personal circumstances may now have changed and people may now be in a position to either speak to investigating Gardaí or to provide information now that they may not have been able to provide before."

An Garda Síochána appeals to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you might believe it to be, to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on 01 8010600 or any Garda station, or anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. Any information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

William Maughan and Anna Varslavane were reported last seen on Tuesday the 14th April 2015.

William and Anna had been together since 2014 and lived in a caravan in Gormanston, Co. Meath. William had decided to return to his family home in Tallaght with Anna. His mother and father, Helen and Joe, were making arrangements for their return. On the morning of Tuesday 14th April 2015 William went to Balbriggan followed shortly afterwards by Anastasija. They ran some errands and made contact with William’s mother Helen to arrange for her to travel from Tallaght to Gormanston to collect them and their belongings.

William spoke to his mother at about 2.30pm and asked her to make her way out to Gormanston to collect them. William and Anna got a taxi together from Balbriggan to Gormanston just shortly after 2.30pm. Helen arrived in Gormanston just before 3pm but could not locate William. She drove to Stamullen to look for him but didn’t find him. She returned to Gormanston and called his mobile phone but it went straight to message minder.

William and Anna never showed up and Helen became extremely worried, and reported both as missing.

An extensive investigation was launched with several searches and enquiries carried out. The case was upgraded to a murder investigation following a review of the case in September 2016.

Seven people have been previously arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of William Maughan and Anna Varslavane.