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Family appeal over 1998 disappearance of Fiona Sinnott

Fiona Sinnott had been living alone with her daughter Emma
Fiona Sinnott had been living alone with her daughter Emma

The family of a Co Wexford woman who disappeared 17 years ago have renewed their appeal for anyone with information to contact gardaí.

Fiona Sinnott was last seen leaving Butler's Bar in Broadway, near Rosslare shortly after midnight on 9 February 1998.

The 19-year-old had been there on a night out with friends.

Fiona had been living in Ballyhit near Wexford town with her baby daughter.

A number of searches have been carried out over the years since her disappearance.

Her remains have never been found.

Her family has urged anyone with any information to come forward and earlier this organised their own search of land.

Following that search the family said more information came to light about two other sites and believe a new search should be carried out at one of these sites.

A Garda spokesperson said the investigation into Fiona’s disappearance is ongoing and any information gardaí receive will be immediately actioned.

Gardaí are also appealing for anyone with any information to contact Wexford Garda station on 053 9165200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Speaking to RTÉ's News at One, 'Marie', a relative of Ms Sinnott, said: "There is a bigger significance with site three than site two, so we have kind of hopped over site two and are working on site three at the moment."

She said gardaí have been notified and they are working alongside the family, as well as Operation Trace.

She added the family are waiting to find out the logistics of site three before investigating it.

She also said the family had pooled their resources to finance the digs, which involved mechanical diggers, after losing patience with the authorities.

"We were tired of waiting and we can not leave information coming forward and nobody else doing anything about it.

"So it's a case of want something done, do it yourself. We'll do whatever it takes to bring her home, we will never give up and we have to be her voice and that is exactly what we are doing."

Separately, a search has resumed in Dundalk in Co Louth for Ciara Breen, who went missing in February 1997.

Last year, two witnesses came forward with potential sightings of Ms Breen and gardaí also received two anonymous letters with information about the case.

The search is focusing on Balmers Bog, off the Ardee Road in Dundalk, and could take a number of weeks.

The area covers 16 acres and is heavily overgrown with shrubbery.