Irishman on Interpol's wanted list

An Irishman wanted by gardaí in connection with the murder of a woman (23) whose body was found in a burnt-out caravan in Co Clare, has been included on a list of "most wanted" criminals by Interpol.

The international agency today called on the public to help trace John "Fozzy" Griffin (43), who is believed to have faked his death on a cliff top in the Aran Islands and escaped abroad following the woman's death.

Mr Griffin is wanted in connection with the death of Emer O’Loughlin, whose body was discovered in a burnt-out caravan in the townland of Ballybornagh, near the Burren on April 8th, 2005.

Ten days after Ms O'Loughlin's body was discovered, Mr Griffin was spotted going to Inis Mór where his clothes were found abandoned near the cliff edge at the Dún Aonghasa fort.

It is believed Mr Griffin may now be living in Britain, Germany or Spain.

Ms O'Loughlin, who was from Ennistymon, had been living in the Ballybornagh area for a number of years prior to her death and was a student at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.

Her body was exhumed in May 2010 and a murder investigation was opened.

Mr Griffin is included on a new list of the 26 "most wanted" criminals by Interpol. Officers at the agency launched the second stage of a global manhunt today, aimed at redoubling efforts to catch the individuals.

Among the other suspects it is seeking as part of it's "Infra-Red" operation is Romanian Ioan Clamparu (41), who is suspected of masterminding an international people smuggling operation in which women were forced into prostitution in Spain. He has contacts in Britain and Ireland.

Interpol is also hunting British paedophile  Darne Elarmo (40), a commercial pilot who is wanted in connection with the kidnapping of two teenage boys. Elarmo, also known as Jones, is wanted by police in the United States investigating the grooming of two boys via social networking sites between 2005 and 2008.

Police said the aeroplane and helicopter pilot visited Britain last year, but may now be living in Spain, possibly among the expatriate community.

Added reporting: PA