GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING THE disappearance of Fiona Pender in August of 1996 have today commenced a dig at a site in Co Offaly. 

A search operation is underway at a location where an area of land is to be searched and an excavation will take place, as well as technical and forensic examinations in the coming days. 

Gardaí have been investigating Fiona’s disappearance for over 28-years. It was initially a missing persons case, and is now a murder investigation. 

A spokesperson said that in that time “significant enquiries have been carried out to establish Fiona’s whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which Fiona disappeared”. 

Fiona was 25-years-old and seven months pregnant at the time she went missing. Her remains have never been located. 

She was last seen at approximately 6am on the morning of 23 August in 1996, at her flat at Church Street, in Tullamore. 

Fiona was described as being 5’5″ in height, with long blonde hair and was 25 years of age. She was wearing bright coloured clothing and white leggings.

Fiona Pender was 25 when she disappeared in 1996.

A garda spokesperson today said that based on the information available to gardaí, they have re-classified the missing persons case as a murder investigation. 

A garda spokesperson said: 

Related Reads

Brother of Fiona Pender says 'people want to see us with a body to mourn'

Fiona Pender: A look back through an 18-year mystery

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

“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.

“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.”