'I'm really hopeful this time': Fiona Sinnott's family gather as fresh search carried out
Fiona Sinnott has been missing since 9 February 1998.
Family members of the late Fiona Sinnott say they are "really hopeful" as they gathered in a south Wexford village after the latest dig for information got underway on Thursday.
Gardaí sealed off a parcel of land close to the village this morning to commence a search operation "on open ground at a location in Co Wexford".
Heavy machinery and drones are to be used to carry out a full technical and forensic examination of the site. It is expected to continue over several days.
Gardaí, who command a heavy presence in the area, have sealed off the main road leading to the site both from the Wexford area and the Ballymore link road.
This is the continuation of several digs that have taken place since Fiona went missing on Sunday, February 8, 1998.
In 2005, gardaí upgraded their investigation to murder, carrying out a significant amount of enquiries and interviews into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
The 19-year-old mother-of-one was last seen socialising with friends at Butler's Pub in Broadway, not far from her home in Ballyhitt, Co Wexford. She left the pub around midnight and has not been seen since.
According to gardaí, a motorist reportedly saw a male and a female on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway, on the night in question — around the time Fiona left the pub. Two other males, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, were also spotted in the area at the time.
Despite numerous garda appeals over the years, none of these four individuals have ever been identified. Gardaí say they are eager to locate these people and anyone else who was nearby at the time but did not or could not come forward.
Gardaí have collated thousands of documents and reports along with interviews as they try to bring closure for the family. Gardaí also interviewed six people in relation to the investigation, all of whom were released without charge.
Members of the Sinnott family have gathered in the village as they await developments and are being kept informed by gardaí.
Fiona's sister, Diane, said: "They brought me in on Tuesday and told us they were planning to search a site, but they didn't say where.
"They were obviously looking to keep it quiet. We met the new gardaí that are on the case. It was only today that we found out exactly where they are looking. They have drones and diggers and everything down there.
"I'm really hopeful this time. We all are. We just want to find her. The guards seem fairly confident that they've got something this time.
"Apparently it came from a very good tip-off. There must be something there. Hopefully this will finally be it and we'll find Fiona."
A garda spokesperson said investigators are continuing to urge anyone with information related to Fiona’s disappearance and murder, and who has not already spoken to gardaí, to come forward.
"Gardaí continue to appeal to any person who may have previously come forward who felt they could not provide Gardaí with all the information they had in relation to this matter, to contact the investigation team again," the spokesperson said.
"An Garda Síochána appeals to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant you might believe it to be, to contact Wexford Garda Station on 053 9165200, or any Garda station. Anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111."
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