New Laois search in Fiona murder probe after 'nothing' useful found at Offaly site

A garda on duty at a roadblock in Clonaslee at a route leading to the search site

placeholder image — A garda on duty at a roadblock in Clonaslee at a route leading to the search site

Another road closure as operation will remain ongoing overnight

GARDAI investigating the murder of Tullamore woman Fiona Pender nearly 29 years ago were today (Wednesday, May 28) searching a site in the Slieve Bloom mountains after two days combing bogland near Killeigh.

The search at Graigue, Killeigh concluded on Tuesday and gardai said the results were not being released for operational reasons.

However, it is believed that the Offaly site did not yield any information which will help solve the mystery of Fiona Pender's disappearance on August 23, 1996.

One source said the operation was successful in that it helped rule out that site but added: “There was nothing which would be useful to finding Fiona's remains.”

The new search site is in Co Laois, about four kilometres south of the village of Clonaslee off a road used by local traffic and hill walkers on the Glendineoregan Loop.

Security was tight in the vicinity of the search area and only people requiring local access were being permitted onto the link road leading from Hillside View in Clonaslee up towards the mountains.

It is known that a significant garda presence was located at a parking area (signpost pictured below) on the route towards The Cut in the Slieve Blooms.

Monicknew, where a search took place in 2008 following the discovery of a cross with the words 'Fiona Pender. Buried here, August 22nd, 1996' written on it, is a townland bordering Glendineoregan to the south. The remains of the 25-year-old were not found there.

In 2014 a search took place at Capard, Rosenallis, which is further away to the east of the current site, but nothing was found.

The first search on Monday near Killeigh coincided with gardai confirming that the case of Fiona Pender (pictured below) had been re-classified from a missing persons inquiry to a murder investigation.

Gardai have said that the search operation will remain ongoing overnight (Wednesday/Thursday) and to facilitate this, the Ross Road at Clonaslee, Co Laois will remain closed from the R422 entrance to the R440 entrance.

Gardai said no through traffic will be allowed onto this road until further notice, with local access available to residents via the R422 entrance only.

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.