Police attempt to solve Sacriston mystery

Mar 28 2010 by Neil McKay, Sunday Sun

A CLOSE-KNIT community holds the key to the mystery of a man who vanished without a trace eight years ago, detectives have said.

But they believe many locals are too scared to come forward with information.

Now one senior officer has repeated his determination to eventually find out what happened to Eddie Donnelly.

Speaking on the anniversary of the disappearance of the ex-miner, Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin repeated his belief that the “quiet, unassuming man” was murdered and his body possibly put in a mine shaft.

And he said he was also sure there were people living in the village of Sacriston, near Durham, who knew how he had met his death, but who may have been too frightened to come forward.

Mr Donnelly was 53 when his sister Frances reported him missing from the home they shared in Fynway, Sacriston.

Despite the police carrying out exhaustive searches at locations in and around Sacriston involving specialist search dogs, Mr Donnelly has never been found.

A number of people have also been arrested and questioned in connection with his disappearance – including Frances Donnelly and her daughter – but no one has been charged.

Five years ago Det Supt Malkin, leading the investigation, confirmed that what had begun as a missing person’s inquiry had become a murder hunt.

Today he said: “There is not a scrap of evidence to suggest that Mr Donnelly is alive and everything points to the likelihood that not only is he dead, but also that he met his death at someone else’s hands.

“As it is the eighth anniversary of his disappearance, we are once again taking the opportunity to appeal for further information about what has become of him.

“This remains very much a live inquiry and we are determined to bring the person or people responsible to justice.

“We remain convinced that there are individuals within the community in which Mr Donnelly lived who have information vital to the inquiry and that, for whatever reason, they have failed to come forward.

“I would appeal to them now to salve their consciences and get in touch with us.”

At the time of her brother’s disappearance, Frances Donnelly said she had returned home to find his keys, which he had posted through the letterbox, and his cheque book, a book of detachable blank cheques issued by a bank, cash card and other documents. She had said her brother had money worries.

Investigators can be contacted on 0345 60 60 365 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.