Child killer Howard said he hoped Arlene Arkinson was '˜cold and hungry'

Convicted child killer Robert Howard made the callous remark as he drove two other teenage girls to a disco in August 1994.

In a statement read to Belfast Coroner’s Court, Arlene’s friend, Donna Quinn, said: “We thought she had just gone away somewhere.

“He (Howard) said: ‘I hope she is cold and hungry wherever she is, for the bother she has caused us.’”

Fifteen-year-old Arlene, from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, vanished after a night out at a disco across the Irish border in Bundoran, Co Donegal.

She was last seen with Howard, who died in prison last year aged 71.

Howard was acquitted of her murder in 2005 by a jury which was unaware of his conviction for killing a 14-year-old in Kent.

However, he always remained the prime suspect in the Arkinson case.

Ms Quinn, who was aged 18 in 1994, was giving evidence during the sixth day of the long-delayed inquest.

She had invited Arlene, her then boyfriend Patrick John Heggarty, and Robert Howard - who was dating her mother - out for the night in Bundoran.

All four travelled together in Howard’s car and on the return journey, an intoxicated Ms Quinn and Mr Heggarty were dropped off first.

Despite being aware that Howard was on bail for an alleged sex attack and that he had expressed an interest in one of her friends, Ms Quinn was not concerned about Arlene’s safety when she was driven off late at night alone in his car.

“Arlene wouldn’t have looked at him anyway,” she said.

Under cross-examination from Frank O’Donoghue, barrister for the coroner’s service, she also admitted that several days after the teen’s disappearance, Howard had warned her not to say that Arlene had been in their company.

“He wanted you to lie about Arlene Arkinson being with you?” said Mr O’Donoghue.

“Yeah,” replied Ms Quinn, who also asked her boyfriend to lie.

When asked why Howard had asked her not to tell the truth, Ms Quinn added: “He said he did not like the Arkinsons and because he was out on bail or something.”

In another statement read to the court it was claimed Howard had denied having sex with Arlene.

The case was adjourned.