Gardaí have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in the south of Wexford in relation to one of Ireland’s missing women, Fiona Sinnott.

The Garda cold case unit, which investigates unsolved homicides and high-profile missing person cases, has had its staffing cut by almost 50% in the past two years.

More than 9,000 people were reported missing in Ireland last year alone, and 17 of these cases remain unsolved.

Since last Monday, a specialist search team from the local station, backed up by experts from the Garda Technical Bureau, and from Thursday by a team of sniffer dogs, have been combing the marsh land area, known as Balmers Bog, on the Ardee Road in the Co Louth town.

Fresh digs for missing teenager Fiona Sinnott are to begin within weeks as her family continue their quest to recover her remains.

There were mounting hopes yesterday of a breakthrough in the investigation into the disappearance of Dundalk, Co Louth, teenager Ciara Breen in February 1997 after gardaí arrested a prime suspect for a second time.

A Garda chief has renewed appeals to people with information about the high-profile cases of missing women to end the “living nightmare” of families and come forward.

Crumbling loyalties could lead to breakthroughs in many of the missing women cases, according to a senior garda who investigated them.

THE relatives of missing Irish people will take part in a pilgrimage to pray for them on Sunday.

A plaque that was to be unveiled today in memory of missing Co Wexford woman Fiona Sinnott has been stolen.

GARDA Commissioner Noel Conroy has placed unsolved crimes as a major priority in his last year in charge of the force.

GARDAÍ have begun a new search for the body of murdered Wexford woman Fiona Sinnott after new information came to light.

A BUILDER witnessed the body of missing 20-year-old Fiona Sinnott being dumped and buried, gardaí confirmed yesterday.

An excavation taking place in Co Wexford as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Fiona Sinnott almost eight years ago was tonight called off.

A search will resume today for the body of Wexford woman Fiona Sinnott, who has been missing for eight years.

GARDAÍ last night said they did not expect to find the remains of missing woman Fiona Sinnott in an excavation of a site in Co Wexford.

Gardaí are searching a field just outside Wexford town today as part of their investigation into the disappearance of Fiona Sinnott eight years ago.

A DIRECT appeal went out yesterday to anyone who may be harbouring secrets over the deaths and disappearances of eight women.

On the 10th anniversary of Jo Jo Dullard’s disappearance, her sister believes she knows the identity of her killer and says gardaí have not done enough, writes Cormac O’Keeffe.

Gardaí have released two men and two women who were being questioned yesterday about the disappearance of Wexford woman Fiona Sinnott.

GARDAÍ are expected to recommend that charges be brought against a man for the murder of missing woman Fiona Sinnott.

GARDAÍ believe a second person was directly involved in disposing of Fiona Sinnott’s body.

Gardaí in Co Wexford have arrested another man in connection with the disappearance of a 19-year-old girl from her home in Broadway more than seven years ago.

Two women and a man remain in garda custody in Co Wexford today in connection with the disappearance of a 19-year-old woman seven years ago.

Caroline O’Doherty reports on six women whose disappearances are still unsolved.

THE surprise arrest of five people in the long running garda probe into the disappearance of Wexford teenager Fiona Sinnott will reawaken poignant memories of the six women who vanished without trace in one of Ireland’s great unsolved mysteries.

GARDAÍ have reopened their investigations into the ‘cold cases’ of six women who disappeared without trace in the 1990s.

Two women and a man were being questioned tonight in relation to the disappearance of 19-year-old Fiona Sinnott from Co Wexford more than seven years ago.

Gardaí in Co Wexford are holding four people in connection with the disappearance of a 19-year-old woman more than seven years ago.

GARDAÍ are to use a new sophisticated computer system to help crack the unsolved disappearances of six women.