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A new image of April released by her parents Coral and Paul today. Dyfed-Powys Police/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Police given more time to question suspect over April Jones disappearance

Detectives upgraded the investigation to murder earlier today.

POLICE IN WALES have been granted a further 24 hours to question the only suspect in the April Jones’ murder investigation.

Local resident Mark Bridger was arrested on Tuesday afternoon in connection with the 5-year-old’s disappearance but he is now being questioned about her murder. A Welsh court today granted detectives a final extension for his detention this afternoon and police have until about 5pm tomorrow to charge or release him. He remains in custody in Aberystwyth.

The 46-year-old appeared before the court for 25 minutes, entering and leaving the building with a blue blanket over his head.

He was initially arrested on suspicion of abduction but the investigation was upgraded to murder today.

Speaking at the latest press briefing, Superintendent Ian John said that move, taken this morning, “was the right thing to do”. “It is essential for the integrity of the whole operation,” he added.

A lead figure in the inquiry, John said he is “completely overwhelmed” by the support received by local people, as well as those outside the community.

“Only a couple of hours ago two ladies from Newport turned up with bags of food and drink which they had bought with money collected from their community,” he said, citing one example. “All the pink ribbons and the balloons around the town show the impact of this tragic incident on everyone.”

He thanked volunteers who had taken days off work to help in the search, as well as their employers who facilitated the kindness.

John said the focus remains on “finding April and the search continues”.

Eight teams of more than 60 specialist officers are still out searching for signs of the young girl across mid-Wales. They are joined by about 150 members of the Mountain Rescue services, the fire and ambulance services, the Coast Guard, RNLI and RAF.

Special equipment, including boats with sonar equipment and helicopters with thermal imaging capabilities, have also been deployed.

The search will resume at first light tomorrow.

Police have again appealed for anyone who may have seen Bridger’s blue Land Rover Discovery jeep in recent days to contact them.

Readers in the UK can call 0300 2000 333 with any information.

Earlier: Police now treating April Jones disappearance as murder investigation>

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30 Comments
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    Mute James Moore
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:48 PM

    I even changed my address and moved to another county recently, and my annual premiums jumped to an extra €320.00, and the insurance company said that this county have a higher accident rate, but my accident rate is still 0%, yet I still get loaded because of other drivers are suposing to be having accident that has nothing to do with me. Down right fraud insurance companie.

    179
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:36 PM

    THe government should do what’s done here in Bulgaria. Basic 3rd party motor insurance is government controlled through selected brokers. Costs about 100 euro for a years insurance. If you want better cover you organise it yourself.

    151
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    Mute Anne Marie Devlin
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:51 PM

    @Dave Doyle: That’s quite expensive if you take the average monthly salary into account. In Ireland the average salary is about 3.7 times greater than Bulgaria’s which, like for like, would make 3rd party only a minimum of 370. I pay about 400 fully comp +1 named driver.

    28
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    Mute Craig Clancy
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:29 PM

    @Anne Marie Devlin: is gladly pay €100 for insurance for the year..be saving €1900 already…

    41
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    Mute Seriously stunned
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:55 PM

    @Anne Marie Devlin: id gladly pay 400 never mind 100.!!!!

    23
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    Mute Paul Gurney
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:58 PM

    @Dave Doyle: An excellent suggestion Dave.

    13
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jul 8th 2019, 7:58 PM

    @Anne Marie Devlin: 100 euro is about 200 Leva average salary here is about 1000 Leva per month. The vehicle is insured, not the driver. I can drive any vehicle in the company as long as i carry the short version of the documents with me.

    13
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    Mute Means of escape
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:16 PM

    Part of the problem is that insurance companies that are designated repair shops and are quick to dump repairable parts.
    Also if you can get it repaired in another body shop cheaper they will have none of it.

    As Bertie once said “Let’s not upset the apple tart “

    143
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    Mute Means of escape
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:18 PM

    @Means of escape: have designated repair shops

    (Sausage fingers trembling with rage )

    45
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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:04 PM

    Fair play to Pearse Doherty, he’s an excellent Parliamentarian.

    134
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    Mute Robert Phelan
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:07 PM

    Good on SF for high lighting this and also good on Flanagan for backing him on this important issue that’s shafting us all.

    59
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    Mute Craig Clancy
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    Jul 8th 2019, 7:00 PM

    @Robert Phelan: only reason flannagan is backing him is so he can take the praise the leech

    39
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    Mute Maximus Decimus Meridius
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    Jul 8th 2019, 9:39 PM

    @Means of escape: nope, it’s your right to choose your own repair shop.

    5
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    Mute Means of escape
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    Jul 9th 2019, 8:17 AM

    @Maximus Decimus Meridius: authorized repair shop only allowed w most companies

    2
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    Mute Kath Noonan
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:23 PM

    Insurance industry is rotten to the core. They should be jailed for robbery.

    231
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    Mute Mushy Peas
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    Jul 8th 2019, 8:34 PM

    @Kath Noonan: repeal all the legislation, besides basic stuff, and bring all kinds of competition into the market. That’s my suggestion anyway.

    21
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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Jul 8th 2019, 9:17 PM

    @Kath Noonan: who did they rob? People paid their premiums voluntarily!

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    Mute Thefallguy
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    Jul 9th 2019, 7:04 AM

    @GerryCummins: what part of compulsory motor insurance is voluntary? Outer than shop around for the least worst deal, you would be breaking the law.

    19
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    Mute Dan
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:29 PM

    It was great questioning in fairness.. he really poked them…

    95
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    Mute Wild Goose
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:46 PM

    My wife and I went to the US in 1979 for over two years. When we came back we were asked why our insurance lapsed by the PMPA girl on the phone. When we told her we were in the US she quoted us 700 pounds for third party I think. We were shocked. I rang them an hour later and said nothing about being in the States and got cover from the same company for exactly half! 350 pounds. I’ve had nothing but contempt for them since. Shysters.

    79
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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Jul 8th 2019, 9:27 PM

    @Wild Goose: well now you would have no no claims bonus and your US licence wouldn’t count for squat!

    3
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    Mute Michael farrelly
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:51 PM

    No use Charlie Flanagan praising Pierce Doherty. You are in Government. Do something about these crooks robbing us

    114
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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:06 PM

    @Michael farrelly: Praising Pearse yet still leaving it all up to the Insurance Industry to sort out… That’d be like waiting for turkeys to vote for Christmas…. #FineGaelness

    70
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    Mute den o sullivan
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:20 PM

    Simply scrap compulsory insurance

    80
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    Mute Milk The Drones
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:21 PM

    @den o sullivan:
    The cartel would never allow Fine Gael to think like that.

    84
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    Mute Craig Clancy
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:33 PM

    I genuinely don’t know how SF aren’t getting a run at power after all the fighting they are doing for the people..I keep saying give them one shot and that’s it..they screw it up don’t even think of them again..they can’t be any worse than the uneducated,unqualified shower that’s in there now.

    84
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    Mute ObsidianShine
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:38 PM

    @Craig Clancy: I agree, I believe they would be more fiscally responsible than Fine Gael.

    48
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    Mute Craig Clancy
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:46 PM

    @ObsidianShine: they keep doing the dirty jobs that need doing and when the government pass the bills the government gets the praise and they take the praise as well..the government that are there now are a bunch of leeches..leeching of the hard work and dedication other put in..and take any opportunity for a photo to make them look good.

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    Mute Milk The Drones
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    Jul 8th 2019, 7:01 PM

    @Craig Clancy:
    It’s amazing that the resident Leolonian boot lickers haven’t hijacked this threat yet.

    19
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    Mute Craig Clancy
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    Jul 8th 2019, 8:16 PM

    @Milk The Drones: I think there starting to wake up from dream land and actually pulling there heads out of his hole to see he’s only a good for nothing waster.

    20
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    Mute Relly12345
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    Jul 8th 2019, 6:16 PM

    Fair play to Doherty, I find it a bit tongue in cheek of the law society commending him. Self regulation of the highest degree themselves!!

    52
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    Mute Irish big fellow
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:28 PM

    Me Darcy was not able to take on the Insurance Industry so we all pay more as a result.

    23
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    Mute Patrick Wall
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    Jul 8th 2019, 8:48 PM

    The insurance companies stink to high hell. They are plucking figures out of the air, telling us lies about high claims to justify their robbery. Congratulations to Pierce for his intelligent questioning of these liars.

    Leo is going to fell the wrath of the business community with the likes of Alan Farrell and Maria Bailey, legislators, attempting to defraud insurance companies and perjury in court. There all robbing us blind, Insurance Companies, Government TD’S (Legislators), Brokers, out of touch judges awarding massive claims etc.

    40
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    Mute James Wormold
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    Jul 8th 2019, 5:37 PM

    C’mon a government can’t wash its hands. Everyone knows a government is not human.

    18
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    Mute Niall Donnelly
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    Jul 8th 2019, 8:02 PM

    Health insurance next!!!

    14
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    Mute Thefallguy
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    Jul 8th 2019, 9:43 PM

    Goverment, judicial system and Insurance companies are all in bed together.

    19
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    Mute Wade Wilson
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    Jul 9th 2019, 9:24 AM

    Highest number of auto accidents in the EU: Portugal
    One of the lowest insurance rates in the EU: Portugal

    One of the lowest number of auto accidents in the EU: Ireland
    The highest insurance rates in the EU: Ireland

    FFG have no intention of helping anyone but themselves. Anyone expecting them to protect the people from predatory businesses is going to be disappointed.

    13
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    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Jul 8th 2019, 11:06 PM

    Gas how the HSE escape scrutiny here. If you visit A&E and have a a medical card it’s free ( for you). No medical card it’s €100.00. Road traffic collision or RTC €280.00 straight off the bat, and you are charged as the same as if you were a private patient for each night you are there.

    14
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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Jul 8th 2019, 7:33 PM

    Complete thieves, I paid 4500 for public liability and because we earned more than expected were told to pay 1500 back money before being given insurance for the next year at 6000. Quinn insurance, may you all rot in Hell

    35
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    Mute tommytukamomo
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    Jul 8th 2019, 7:39 PM

    Seriously, what did you expect from these inept and grossly incompetent gombeens.
    The solution is quite easy , deregulate vehicle insurance and put the cost on fuel/ mileage on electric cars.
    The higher mileage pays higher costs.
    This thing about charging new drivers in excess of €2000 plus is a joke.

    21
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    Mute GerryCummins
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    Jul 8th 2019, 9:26 PM

    @tommytukamomo: you should have been one in the late 80′s. The great thing is this has been going on for decades! I look at the news now and it’s all Dejavu! Seen it all before, it’s cyclical, Homlessness, Climate Change etc. Pop into the National Library in Kildare St and order a microfilm of any given newspaper from the 1980s and tell me it couldn’t be cut and pasted into tomorrows newspaper! Some people think the world just started yesterday!

    18
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