Police from Wales visit Gowing family home in Offaly

Some 6.250 search hours have been invested to date in the search for murdered Offaly vet Catherine Gowing in Wales over a five week period. That's according to North Wales Police, which sent staff members to the Gowing family home in Clareen last Thursday (November 15) to give Ms Gowing's extended family a "comprehensive break down of the investigation" to date. In a statement released last Tuesday North Wales Police search advisor Sergeant Neil Parkes said the search for Catherine - which to date has resulted in the discovery of human remains identified as Catherine's in two separate locations - is the largest search operation conducted by North Wales Police. Catherine Gowing was last seen at approximately 8.40pm on Friday, October 12 when sighted on CCTV leaving Asda supermarket in Queensferry. Since then 46 year old Clive Sharp has been charged with her murder. Police in Wales are continuing their search for Catherine's remains despite human remains already discovered in Sealand and the banks of the River Dee being identified as Catherine's. "The search for Catherine Gowing is the largest search operation conducted by North Wales Police," Sgt Parkes, who was one of three from North Wales Police who visited Offaly last week, said. "The terrain thus far has been extremely challenging involving large areas of woodland, disused quarries, water courses, cess pits and other open areas. We are also searching houses and vehicles with each receiving its own sequential search sector. "In addition 15 separate water course have been searched involving ponds and lakes of various sizes, including the River Dee on the Cheshire border. These searches have been completed by the North West Under Water Search Unit. Further support has been received from both police and private sector dog handlers in addition to the force helicopter which has been used to provide an aerial search and photographic facility." Sgt Parkes added that up until November 20 a total of 40 specially trained police officers have worked on the search over a 25 day period. "Approximately 15 officers are being deployed on a daily basis which assisted by Cheshire Police providing a team of 20 officers for two weeks equates to a total of over 6,250 search hours," he said. "However this total does not include significant commitments from air support and the under water search unit." Sgt Parkes said public information is in part directing the search. "Fresh information continues to generate further search areas, for example since last Thursday, November 15 and up to today (Tuesday) the Underwater Search Team Unit have been searching another sector within Pinfold Lane, Alltami." Sgt Parkes visited the Clareen home of the Gowing family last week along with senior investigating officer DCI Mark Pierce and a family liaison officer. Sgt Parkes described Catherine's family as inspiring, and said their strength has been "a real driving force" for those investigating the case. Searches are set to continue while there are active lines of enquiry to pursue, and this week police has appealed once more for further information and witnesses to come forward. "Despite the scale, scope and very often difficult terrain the team have remained very positive and we are determined to do the best we can," Sgt Parkes said.