Gardaí are currently conducting a search operation on open ground in County Wexford as part of their ongoing investigation into the disappearance and presumed murder of Fiona Sinnott, which occurred 27 years ago.
Fiona Sinnott, who was 19 years old and a mother, went missing on the evening of Sunday, February 8, 1998. She was last seen socializing with friends at Butler’s Pub in Broadway, near her home in Ballyhitt, Co Wexford. She departed the pub around midnight and has not been seen since.
Gardaí have stated that a motorist reportedly witnessed a man and a woman on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway, around the time Fiona Sinnott left the pub. Two other men, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, were also seen in the same area at that time.
Despite numerous appeals from Gardaí over the years, none of these four individuals have been identified. Gardaí are keen to locate these individuals, as well as anyone else who may have been in the vicinity at the time but did not, or felt unable to, come forward.
In 2005, the investigation into Fiona Sinnott’s disappearance was upgraded to a murder investigation. In that year, a man was arrested and detained on suspicion of murder.
Five other individuals – three women and two men – were also detained in connection with Fiona Sinnott’s disappearance and murder. However, to date, no one has been charged in connection with the Garda investigation.
Gardaí and Fiona Sinnott’s family have consistently issued appeals for information on the anniversary of her disappearance. This includes direct appeals on the program Crimecall in February and April 2017.
On Thursday morning, Gardaí confirmed that an area of land in Wexford is being excavated and forensically examined as part of the ongoing murder investigation of Fiona Sinnott.
A Garda spokesperson stated that investigators are urging anyone with information related to the disappearance and murder of Fiona Sinnott, who has not already spoken to Gardaí, to please come forward.
“An Garda Síochána is reiterating its appeal to anyone who may have previously come forward but felt unable to provide Gardaí with all the information they had in relation to this matter, to contact the investigation team again,” the spokesperson stated.
“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.”
