New data on Sinnott case significant, say gardai

Detectives investigating the disappearance nearly eight years ago of Wexford teenager Fiona Sinnott (19) believe they are on the verge of a breakthrough following the arrest of five people in the past 48 hours.

Gardaí have received what they say is "very significant" fresh information on the disappearance of the woman, who is missing presumed dead.

They have already identified a chief suspect, and believe the new information may solve the case and lead them to Ms Sinnott's remains. Her case has been one of the most high profile missing persons inquiries in the last decade.

A team of detectives from Wexford and investigators from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation have been reviewing the case for almost two months. They have received information that was not disclosed during the original investigation from a person who knew Ms Sinnott.

This information has led to five arrests in the Wexford area. Three people were still being questioned last night. A man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested on Wednesday and taken to New Ross Garda station. They were released without charge yesterday.

A further three people were arrested yesterday morning - a woman in her 30s, a woman in her 50s, and a man in his 30s. They were held at New Ross and Enniscorthy Garda stations.

The five arrested were all detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on suspicion of withholding information. All five knew Ms Sinnott.

The chief suspect was not one of those detained. Gardaí expect to interview him shortly.

Ms Sinnott, originally from Bridgetown, Co Wexford, has been missing presumed dead since February 8th, 1998, when she was last seen drinking in Butler's pub in Broadway near Rosslare.

She was seen at closing time leaving the bar with her ex-partner and father of her baby daughter Seán Carroll. Their daughter Emma, now eight years old, was 11 months when her mother disappeared.

Mr Carroll told gardaí at the time that he spent the night at Ms Sinnott's cottage in Ballycushlane, Co Wexford. He said when he left next morning Ms Sinnott was at the house.

The youngest of five siblings, she had previously gone missing for a short period but had turned up safe and well.

As a result, her disappearance in 1998 was not reported to gardaí until February 18th. In the months following, an exhaustive search continued matching the intensity of a murder inquiry.

A reconstruction of Ms Sinnott's disappearance featured on RTÉ's Crimeline programme, and a £50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest was posted by the Irish Crimestoppers Trust. However, no new evidence emerged.

Ms Sinnott's case was also included in Operation Trace, a specialist Garda investigation set up in September 1998.