An Garda Síochána announced today, Wednesday, May 28, that they have commenced another search, this time in Co Laois, as part of their investigation into the 1996 disappearance and murder of Fiona Pender.
The open ground in Co Laois will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations, Gardaí said on Wednesday.
As part of the search, the Irish Aviation Authority has enacted a temporary restriction (Temporary Restricted Area) on the flying of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the vicinity of Slieve Bloom Mountains from today to Wednesday, June 4.
This search operation will remain ongoing overnight, Gardaí said in a subsequent update on Wednesday.
In order to facilitate this, the Ross Road at Clonaslee, Co Laois will remain closed from the R422 entrance to the R440 entrance.
No through traffic will be allowed onto this road until further notice, with local access available to residents via the R422 entrance only.
Fiona Pender, 25, was last seen at her flat on Church Street in Tullamore, Co Offaly, at about 6 am on Friday, August 23, 1996. She was wearing bright colored clothing and white leggings. She is described as being 5"5 in height and having long blonde hair.
Pender was seven months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. She had spent the previous day shopping for baby clothes with her mother in Tullamore. She was in good form and was looking forward to the birth of her baby.
Pender's remains have never been located.
In a major update this week, An Garda Síochána announced that their missing person investigation had been re-classified as a murder investigation.
The reclassification comes after what An Garda Síochána described as a "sustained investigation" over the last 28 years, during which "significant enquiries have been carried out to establish Fiona's whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which she disappeared."
Gardaí said that over the course of the investigation, the team has discovered and collated thousands of documents/reports, taken in excess of 300 statements of evidence, and retained a number of exhibits.
Extensive searches have been carried out, and five persons were arrested and detained in connection with this investigation.
The case was reclassified based on the entirety of the information available to the investigation team, Gardaí said on Monday.
As part of the update on Monday, Gardaí announced that they would be commencing a search operation on open ground at a location in Co Offaly.
On Tuesday, Gardaí said they concluded the search operation in Co Offaly; the results are not being released for operational reasons.
May 26, 2025: Gardai in Co Offaly during the latest search for the body of missing murder victim Fiona Pender. (RollingNews.ie)
Investigating Gardaí continue to appeal to any person with any information in relation to the 1996 disappearance of Fiona Pender, who has not spoken to Gardaí, to come forward and speak to the investigation team.
Gardaí also continue to appeal to any person who may have previously come forward and 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.
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