Rain hampers search for schoolgirl

HEAVY rain is hampering gardai in the latest search for missing Donegal schoolgirl, Mary Boyle, who has not been seen since she…

HEAVY rain is hampering gardai in the latest search for missing Donegal schoolgirl, Mary Boyle, who has not been seen since she left her grandparents' home on March 18th, 1977.

The excavation of a boggy area, half a mile from where she was last seen, has begun after diggers completed the drainage of a "hidden lake".

However, gardai are unable to say how long the search will take. The latest search was begun at the request of Mary Boyle's family. The swampy land has been made treacherous by recent rain and gardai are having to stand on wooden supports to continue the dig.

However, despite a series of searches, no trace has been found of the girl who disappeared after going for a walk nearly 20 years ago.