Gardaí investigating the February 1998 disappearance and murder of Fiona Sinnott have today, Thursday, July 31, commenced a search operation on open ground at a location in Co Wexford.
The area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days, Gardaí said on Thursday.
Road closures will be in place, local diversions will be in operation, and a Temporary Restricted Air Space has been put in place by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Fiona Sinnott. (An Garda Siochana)
"Really hopeful"
Members of Fiona's family have gathered near where the search is being conducted, just outside of Killinick.
“They brought me in on Tuesday and told us that they were planning to search a site, but they didn’t say where," Fiona's sister Diane told Wexford People on Thursday.
"They were obviously looking to keep it quiet.
"We met the new gardaí that are on the case, etc.
"It was only today that we found out exactly where they are looking. They have drones and diggers and everything down there."
Diane added: "I'm really hopeful this time. We all are. We just want to find her. The guards seem fairly confident that they've got something this time.
"Apparently, it came from a very good tip-off. There must be something there. Hopefully, this will finally be it, and we'll find Fiona."
The disappearance of Fiona Sinnott
Fiona was the mother of an infant daughter and at the time of her disappearance, lived at Ballyhitt, Broadway, Co Wexford.
On Sunday, February 8, 1998, Fiona was socialising at Butler’s Pub in Broadway, Co Wexford with friends. She left Butler’s at approximately midnight. This was the last confirmed sighting of Fiona.
A motorist saw a male and a female on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway on that night, at around midnight.
There were two males in their late teens or early twenties in close proximity.
None of these four people has ever come forward, and Gardaí say they are anxious to trace them or anyone who was in the vicinity who did not, or could not, come forward at the time.
Fiona Sinnott. (RTÉ Crimecall)
Gardaí in the Wexford/Wicklow Garda Division have carried out a sustained investigation over the last 27 years, during which significant enquiries have been carried out to establish Fiona’s whereabouts and to investigate the circumstances in which Fiona disappeared.
The investigation continues to be led by a Senior Investigating Officer.
Over the course of this investigation, the investigation team has discovered and collated thousands of documents/reports and taken in excess of 500 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits.
In 2005, Gardaí arrested and detained a male on suspicion of Fiona's murder. At the same time, five other people (three women and two men) were arrested and detained in connection with the investigation into the disappearance and murder of Fiona.
No person has been charged in connection with this investigation to date.
Investigating Gardaí continue to appeal to any person with any information in relation to the disappearance and murder of Fiona, who has not spoken to Gardaí, to please come forward and speak to the 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.
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.
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