Remains identified as missing Irish vet

Welsh police have confirmed that human remains found on the border between Wales and England are those of Irish vet Catherine Gowing who had been missing for more than three weeks.

The announcement was made yesterday afternoon by North Wales Police following a postmortem carried out on Thursday.

Det Chief Insp Mark Pierce, the senior investigating officer, said: “The postmortem confirmed our fears and the results have been passed to Catherine’s family.

“The search continues for further remains and any other evidence which will assist this investigation.”

Ms Gowing (37), originally from Clonlee, Co Offaly, was last seen on Friday, October 12th, coming out of an Asda supermarket in Queensferry.

Her remains were found last Wednesday at a shallow pool, known locally as the “Lum”, near where she disappeared. More remains were found on the banks of the river Dee near Chester on Friday. They are still being examined.

Kinnity parish priest Fr Michael O’Meara said yesterday’s news amounted to confirmation of her family’s worst fears. “We’ve been through a very traumatic time here now. This comes as a great shock despite the fact that hope was fading for Catherine. This news is hard to comprehend.”

Ms Gowing is survived by her parents Maureen and John and her sister Emma, who has been in Wales with her husband since the disappearance.

During the search, Emma Gowing described her sister as a “kind, sensitive, beautiful person who is passionate about animals and utterly devoted to her family. She is the light of my life and the light of my parents’ life.”

Local TD Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy said Ms Gowing’s family would be relieved that her remains had been found. “They were hoping that she would be found and that they could bring her home and begin to have some closure on it,” she said.

“Her parents are gentle, kind people. It has been such an appalling shock to them. For one of their children not to come home must be their worst nightmare.”

Ms Gowing worked in a veterinary practice in Mold, north Wales, and was first reported missing when she did not turn up for work on October 15th.

Her burnt-out Irish registered Renault Clio was later found abandoned in a disused quarry.

Police arrested a local man on the day after she was reported missing. Clive Sharp (46) was charged with her murder and has been remanded in custody until January 7th.