Search for mudered Offaly woman concludes in Laois

Gardaí say a search for missing Offaly woman Fiona Pender on open ground in Laois has now ended.

It was the second search in recent days and follows the conclusion of a dig on land at Graigue, Killeigh, Co Offaly on Tuesday evening.

The latest search is taking place near Clonaslee, not far from the location of a 2014 search for Fiona Pender’s remains at Capard, Rosenallis. The search of open ground continued overnight and gardaí closed a road while the Irish Aviation Authority(IAA) restricted air space of the search area.  

Gardaí said the Ross Road at Clonaslee, which was closed from the R422 entrance to the R440 entrance, is due to re-open imminently. 

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

An Garda Síochána have updated the family on any developments andInvestigations are ongoing.

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.

Fiona, who was 25 years-old in 1996, was seven months pregnant when she went missing from Tullamore in Co Offaly. 

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.