A woman who is in protective care abroad has been interviewed by gardaí in connection with the disappearance of Fiona Pender, the Co Offaly hairdresser who went missing 18 years ago.
Gardaí believe Ms Pender was murdered and have reopened the investigation.
The woman being questioned had been in a relationship with the main suspect in Ms Pender's disappearance but that relationship broke down.
It is believed the man in his 40s, who is currently on bail, made threats against the woman and is facing criminal charges.
Ms Pender disappeared from her flat on Church Street in Tullamore on 22 August 1996.
The 25-year-old was pregnant at the time. She has not been found and gardaí have long suspected she was murdered.
A suspect was identified but never charged and he subsequently emigrated.
He became involved in a relationship with another Irish woman abroad.
Gardaí in Tullamore carried out a full review of the case in the past 12 months and RTÉ News has learned they have made significant progress in the investigation.
Gardaí have been liaising with an investigation team abroad and detectives travelled to interview the woman as part of their investigation into Ms Pender's disappearance.
Gardaí in Tullamore have now identified a number of significant new lines of inquiry in the case, which are still being investigated.
Some of these lines of inquiry could lead to new locations being searched for the missing woman.
