The search of Fiona Pender, who went missing in 1996, has been upgraded to a murder investigation with a major new search operation being launched in Co Offaly this week.
Gardaí have long believed Ms Pender, who was 25 and seven months pregnant at the time of her disappearance, was murdered but until Monday had been unable to gather enough evidence to formally open a homicide investigation.
That changed in recent months, following a review of the investigation file and the uncovering of new information.
According to a Garda statement, an area of open land at Graigue, Killeigh, will be searched and excavated, and subject to technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.
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The area of farmland to be searched is about 15 minutes’ drive from Ms Pender’s native Tullamore, where she was last seen at her flat on Church Street early in the morning of Friday, August 23rd, 1996.
The search area centres on an area of land covered in light vegetation and accessible on foot by a small path. The Irish Aviation Authority has restricted the use of drones in the area for the duration of the search.
Over the years, gardaí in the Laois/Offaly division have arrested and detained five people, taken more than 300 witness statements and compiled thousands of documents.
Activity increased significantly in recent years when the disappearance was subject to a cold case review. A senior investigating officer was appointed to lead the investigation team and conduct a fresh review of all evidence.
However, to date that effort has yielded no concrete results. No one has been ever been charged in connection with Ms Pender’s disappearance.
Several search operations have also been launched over the years, all without success.
The upgrading of the inquiry to murder opens up a number of new investigative tools for gardaí. It will allow them to obtain search warrants and gain access to phone records, if required.
Although frequently linked to the high-profile disappearances of other women in the 1990s, gardaí have always been confident there is no connection. Unlike most of those cases, gardaí suspicion has long centred on a single suspect who had a specific motive for murdering Ms Pender.
This man lived near Ms Pender and was known to her. He later emigrated to another country
For years, Josephine Pender, Fiona’s mother, campaigned for a breakthrough in the case. Josephine died in 2017 after a long illness.
Fiona’s father Sean died by suicide in 2000 while her brother Mark died in a motorcycle collision in 1995.
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Ms Pender, who worked as a hairdresser and part-time model, was described by gardaí as being 167cm (5′5″) in height, with long blonde hair.
She was wearing bright coloured clothing and white leggings when she was last seen.
In their statement, gardaí appealed for anyone with information on the case, who have not already spoken to investigators, to come forward.
They also asked witnesses who previously spoke to gardaí but “felt they could not provide gardaí with all the information they had in relation to this matter” to get back in touch.
“An Garda Síochána appeals to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you might believe it to be, to contact Tullamore Garda Station on 057 932 7600, or any Garda Station. Anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111”.
