There’s a strong garda presence at the area, just outside the village of Killinick, with heavy machinery and drones set to be used to carry out a full technical and forensic examination of the site over the coming days. Sections of of the road are closed off and locals are being diverted elsewhere while the dig is ongoing.
Fiona has been missing since Sunday, February 8, 1998, when the young mother of one was last seen socialising with friends at Butler’s Pub in Broadway.
In the intervening years, Fiona’s case has been upgraded to murder and gardaí have carried out significant enquiries to try and establish the circumstances of her disappearance and bring some closure to her heartbroken family.
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.
Fiona Sinnott was last seen in 1998
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – Thursday July 31
Extensive searches have been carried out and six persons were arrested and detained in connection with this investigation.
Having seen numerous false dawns, as she makes her way to the dig site this morning Fiona’s sister Diane is feeling hopeful that the family may finally get the closure that they so desperately crave.
“I’m on the way down in the car here at the moment,” she said. “They brought me in on Tuesday and told us that they were planning to search a site, but they didn’t say where. 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 Sinnott lays flowers at a memorial plaque for her sister Fiona at Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford.
“I’m really hopeful this time,” Diane says. “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.”
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 have ever come forward and Gardaí 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.
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 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.
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.