Search for remains of missing pregnant woman ends

The search for the remains of a pregnant Irish woman in County Offaly has come to an end.

Fiona Pender was last seen at about 06:00 on 23 August 1996 at her flat on Church Street, Tullamore.

Gardaí (Irish police) say their investigation into the murder of the 25 year old is ongoing but the results of the searches are not being released for operational purposes.

Ms Pender's family have been updated, police added.

Since Monday morning gardaí searched a small remote area at Graigue, near Killeigh village, just off the main road between Tullamore and Portlaoise.

The investigation has been reclassified as a murder investigation based on the entirety of the information available to investigators.

Ms Pender went missing in a decade when a number of other young women also disappeared without trace in the same province of Leinster.

But police sources have always indicated that they do not believe her disappearance was linked to any of the other cases.

Over the last 28 years, gardaí have conducted significant inquiries and what they describe as a sustained investigation.

Investigators say they have collated thousands of documents and reports, taken more than 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits.

A number of extensive searches have also been carried out.

According to police, five people have been arrested and detained in connection with this investigation.

No one has been brought to justice for her disappearance.

Ms Pender was described as 5'5" in height, with long blonde hair and she was wearing bright coloured clothing and white leggings when she went missing.

At the time of her disappearance she was seven months pregnant.

Gardaí has issued a fresh appeal for anyone who may have information about the case to come forward.

They have also appealed to anyone who has previously come forward but felt at the time they could not provide police with all the information about Ms Pender's disappearance.