A man has been arrested by gardaí in connection with the disappearance of Mary Boyle in 1977.

Mary, who was six at the time, was visiting her grandparents home in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal, when she went missing.

Gardaí are detaining a 64-year-old man in Co Westmeath and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Gardaí say today's arrest of a 64-year-old man in Mullingar followed new evidence discovered by its Review Team into the disappearance of Mary Boyle in March of 1977.

Kieran Kenny, the Assistant Garda Commissioner for the Northern Region, spoke to the press earlier today regarding the arrest of a man in connection with the disappearance of Mary Boyle in Donegal in 1977.

“New lines of evidence have emerged, which have led us to where we are here today, in that a man in his 60s was arrested this morning in relation to the kidnapping of Mary Boyle in Donegal in 1977,” Kenny said.

He is being questioned over the alleged kidnapping of the 6-year-old - who went missing on a visit to her grandparents' home in Ballyshannon, Co Donegal.

The man in custody is being held at Mullingar Garda Station, where he can be questioned for up to 24 hours excluding rest periods.

A family liaison officer has been liaising with Mary's mother Ann Boyle to keep her up to date on today's developments.

Ann has told Highland Radio in Donegal the arrest gives her renewed hope that she will find out what happened to her little girl:

Mary - from Kincasslagh - has been the subject of two Garda reviews which have seen a wide range of interviews and searches take place across the northern region.

The Assistant Garda Commissioner for the Northern Region Kieran Kenny is appealing for anyone with information on the circumstances surrounding Mary's disappearence to come forward - and any details could help to advance their inquiries.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Incident Room at Ballyshannon Garda Station or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Originally posted at 1:35pm