Fresh appeal for information on anniversary of disappearance

GARDAÍ yesterday appealed for information on missing Fiona Pender on the 11th anniversary of her disappearance.

The young Offaly woman, who was seven months pregnant at the time, was last seen in the company of her mother out shopping for baby clothes, the evening before she went missing.

She has never been found.

The head of a special Garda unit set up to investigate several missing women cases said that as 11 years have passed, someone with crucial details may be able to come forward.

Superintendent John McMahon of Operation Trace said that all leads were being followed to find out what had happened to Fiona Pender.

“People who felt at the time that they couldn’t talk to gardaí may be in a position now given the passage of over 10 years. Those who are withholding information, we’d ask them to come forward.

“Every so often we get a burst of information. Something is triggered in people’s minds. All that information is checked out. We’re investigating it as best we can and are anxious to find out her whereabouts.”

Fiona Pender, 25, was seven months pregnant when she disappeared from her home on Church Street, Tullamore, on August 22, 1996.

She was described as in good spirits and had been looking forward to her child’s birth.

Fiona Pender did not take her passport, credit cards or a change of clothes with her before she disappeared 11 years ago. She is described as 5ft 5in in height with long blonde hair.

She had been living in Croydon in south London before returning to Ireland in February 1996 with her boyfriend.

Her mother Josephine has said she believes her daughter was murdered.

Her one wish is to find her daughter’s body, giving her and her baby a proper burial.

Founder of the Missing Persons’ Association Fr Aquinas Duffy said yesterday that the family were still distraught.

“The family are hoping that there will be a resolution. She hasn’t been found. They’ve just been through so much in the last number of years, but they are not giving up until they find her. It certainly remains a mystery.”

When Fiona Pender disappeared, a thorough search took place in and around Tullamore with the Air Corps, members of the public and gardaí.

A number of young women went missing in the midlands in the late 1990s with some believing a serial killer was on the loose.

Anyone with helpful information can contact either local gardaí on 057-9321305 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800-666111.

The public can also contact www.missing.ie.