A renewed search for missing Tullamore woman Fiona Pender began today, 18 years after she was last seen.
The pregnant hairdresser disappeared from her apartment in Tullamore in August 1996 and while a suspect had been identified in the case, he was never charged and the 25-year-old's whereabouts were never discovered.
Gardaí launched a full review of the case over a year ago and revealed that they have made significant progress in the investigation, including the establishment of a new line of enquiry.
According to RTE News, an area of woodland at Capardwood outside the village of Rosenallis in Co Laois has now been sealed off as a potential crime scene and a team of gardaí, along with special search teams, forensic archaeologists and cadaver dogs, have begun a new search for Fiona.
