Family of missing Fiona Sinnott hope to ‘finally bring her home' as dig starts
The search operation began in Co Wexford this morning by detectives investigating the disappearance and murder of Fiona Sinnott in 1998.
An open area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.
Road closures are in place, and local diversions will be in operation while a temporary restricted air space has also been put in place by the Irish Aviation Authority.
In a statement, Fiona's family thanked the public for their support.
'In light of the Garda press release being made public we appreciate all the support you have shown our family over the years.
'Fiona's Family are within the area of the dig site and I would ask that you give us the privacy we need to process this development.
'Please keep us all, especially Fiona, in your thoughts today. Hopefully today is the day we finally get to bring her home,' the statement further pleaded.
'Please if you have any information please come forward and help us progress this further for Fiona.'
Significant enquiries have been carried out by gardaí in the Wexford/Wicklow Garda Division in what has been described as a 'sustained investigation' over the last 27 years to establish Fiona's whereabouts.
Fiona Sinnott was last seen in 1998
News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 31
The investigation that continues to be led by a Senior Investigating Officer has discovered and collated thousands of documents and reports, taken in more than 500 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits.
'Extensive searches have been carried out and six persons were arrested and detained in connection with this investigation,' a Garda spokesperson said earlier today.
Fiona, the mother of an infant daughter had been living at Ballyhitt, Broadway, Co Wexford when she went missing.
On Sunday, February 8, 1998, Fiona who was just 19, was socialising at Butler's Pub in Broadway, Co Wexford with friends. She left the pub at approximately 12 midnight and was never seen again.
'A motorist saw a male and a female on the roadway near Kisha Cross, Broadway on that night, at around midnight,' a Garda spokesperson added.
'There were two males in their late teens or early twenties in close proximity.'
Fiona Sinnott.
Gardai say none of these four people have ever come forward and they are anxious to trace them or anyone who was in the vicinity 'who did not, or could not, come forward at the time'.
'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,' the Garda spokesperson said.
Meanwhile gardaí continue to appeal to any person who may have previously come forward who felt they could not provide them with all the information they had at the time 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,' gardai added in a statement. 'Anyone who wishes to provide information confidentially should contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.'
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