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A FRESH APPEAL has been made for information in the case of a woman who disappeared without a trace from Waterford more than three decades ago.
Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the disappearance of 22-year-old Imelda Keenan.
Imelda, originally from Mountmellick, Co Laois, is recorded as having been last seen in Waterford city on Monday, 3 January, 1994.
Investigating gardaí say they want to break the “silence” around what happened to Imelda, and have circulated a a computer-generated age-progressed version of how Imelda might look now if she is still alive.
Imelda had moved to Waterford while pursuing her studies and was living with her boyfriend at the time.
On the day of the last recorded sighting, she left her apartment at 1:30pm and walked down William Street onto Lombard Street towards the city centre.
That last reported sighting of Imelda was at the corner of the Tower Hotel and Lombard Street, where she was seen crossing the street.
Imelda was reported missing by her brother, Edward, the following day.
Despite extensive Garda investigations – including taking over 80 statements from people – there have been no further sightings of Imelda.
Superintendent Gavin Hegarty urged anyone with information to contact Gardaí at Waterford Garda Station on (051) 305 300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
“Imelda was known for her quiet demeanour, her love of music and her strong family ties,” Heharty said.
“Despite extensive investigations spanning 32 years, the silence surrounding her fate remains unbroken. We continue to urge anyone with information or the ability to assist our investigation to come forward.”
Imelda’s family have campaigned over recent years for gardaí to upgrade her case to a murder inquiry.
While this has been declined by investigators, gardaí are continuing to seek further information such as in today’s appeal.
Imelda’s family has pointed what they have described as odd features of the case, such as allegations that her Christmas presents at the time of her disappearance were unopened, despite it being over a week after Christmas Day when she went missing.
Two years ago, a public meeting held to mark the 30th anniversary of her disappearance also heard allegations that visits by Imelda’s family to her William Street apartment in Waterford during Christmas 1993 also went unanswered.
Gardaí have repeatedly declined to discuss evidence cited by the family for operational reasons.
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