Fiona Pender’s mother says searches to take place

The mother of missing Tullamore woman Fiona Pender said yesterday she believes that further searches will take place in an effort to find her body.

Ms Pender (25) went missing from her flat at Church Street in Tullamore in August 1996. The hairdresser and part-time model was seven months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. Gardaí believe she was murdered and her body buried.

A search for her body in woodland at the edge of a remote forest in the Slieve Bloom mountains in Co Laois last December was halted after nothing was found.

Josephine Pender (66) said she understands there may be developments in the Garda investigation in the coming months. “There will be another search. There are another few places to search.”

Mrs Pender appealed to those who have any information that might lead to a breakthrough to disclose it.