Gardaí Begin Graigue Excavation in Fiona Pender Case

Gardaí have upgraded Fiona Pender's 1996 disappearance, when she was seven months pregnant, from a missing person case to a murder investigation nearly 29 years later. Excavation and forensic examinations began at a bogland site in Graigue, County Offaly, after new information emerged, with authorities restricting access and airspace during the search. Fiona, a 25-year-old hairdresser and part-time model, was last seen at her Tullamore flat, and despite extensive past investigations, five arrests, and over 300 statements, her remains have never been found. The case includes a chief suspect who emigrated from Ireland, but no one has been charged. Gardaí and Fiona's family continue to appeal for any information to help resolve the case. The investigation and search efforts remain active as authorities seek justice and closure.