Gardaí continue excavations in Slieve Bloom mountains

Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Fiona Pender almost 12 years ago are due to continue excavations today at an area of woodland in the Slieve Bloom mountains.

The dig began on the Laois-Offaly border earlier this week after a passer-by spotted a makeshift wooden cross bearing the name of Ms Pender, who disappeared in August 1996.

The 25-year-old was seven months pregnant at the time.

Gardaí have brought in dogs to help in their examination of the site, but they said yesterday that they were not hugely hopeful of a new lead in the case.

Ms Pender’s mother Josephine says the family are "praying for this to end" and hoping that the appearance of the cross is not a prank.