Fiona Pender case: Second search operation in Co Laois concludes

Gardaí said the results of the searches are not being released for operational reasons

Gardaí carrying out searches in Co Laois. Picture: Padraig O'Reilly

Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Fiona Pender have concluded a search operation in Co Laois, the second search since her case was formally upgraded from a missing persons case to a murder investigation earlier this week.

Gardaí said the results of the searches, conducted on open grounds in the Slieve Bloom mountains area since Wednesday, are not being released for operational reasons.

Ms Pender went missing on August 23, 1996, and was last seen at her apartment on Church Street, Tullamore, by her partner, John Thompson. She was 25 years old and seven months pregnant at the time she went missing.

Despite a series of extensive searches in the years since, more than 300 statements and the arrest — in April 1997 — of five people, no trace of remains have yet been found.

Ms Pender's mother, Josephine, who campaigned on her case, died in September 2017. Her husband, and Fiona’s father, Seán, died by suicide in 2000.

Fiona Pender

On Monday, An Garda Síochána said it had formally upgraded the missing person case to a murder investigation "based on the entirety of the information available to the investigation team".

On Tuesday, investigating gardaí concluded a search operation on lands at Graigue in Killeigh, a short distance from Tullamore. The results of those searches are also not being released for operational reasons.

A Garda spokesperson said Ms Pender's family are being updated on any developments in the case.  

"Investigating gardaí continue to appeal to any person with any information in relation to the disappearance of Fiona in the early morning of Friday 23 August 1996, who has not spoken to Gardaí, to please come forward and speak to our investigation team," the spokesperson said.

The investigation team say they are also appealing to people who may have previously come forward but felt they could not provide gardaí with all the information they had in relation to this matter.

"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," the spokesperson added.