GARDAI are increasingly concerned over the disappearance of Co Offaly woman Ms Fiona Pender (25). Reports have been received of a number of sightings of the Tullamore woman, who is seven months pregnant, in the Dublin area, but they have led nowhere.
Ms Pender was last seen 10 days ago when her boyfriend, Mr John Thompson, left their flat in Church Street, Tullamore at 6 a.m. on Friday to go to work on his family's farm nine miles away.
Gardai received a number of reports that she was seen in the town later that evening between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. According to one witness she was shopping for frozen food in the old Dunnes Stores in the town with a man in his 20s.
The man was wearing a black biker jacket, black jeans and was described as tall, with dark hair and unshaven. He has not come forward despite Garda appeals.
Yesterday Ms Pender's boyfriend appealed to the public to help gardai with their inquiries. "Fiona was in good form when I saw her. She is the . . . finest. Everything that can be done by the gardai is being done, but we would like the public to come forward if they have any information. We are very worried about, her," he said.
Insp Peter Wheeler, who is leading the investigation, said there had been a number of reported sightings of her in Dublin as late as last Friday night but none of the reports has been confirmed.
Ms Pender's bank account has not been touched and her Visa card has not been used. Money which was in the couple's flat had not been touched.
We are treating the investigation as a missing persons inquiry. But the longer it goes on the more concern we have for her safety", said Insp Wheeler.
Gardai have already drained part of the Grand Canal in the town but found nothing. A sub aqua team has also searched a three mile stretch of the Tullamore river which runs behind the flat complex where Ms Pender and Mr Thompson lived.
Over the weekend gardai issued questionnaires at the local train station, shopping centres and pubs in the town.
Gardai also issued questionnaires at weekend bike rallies. Until her brother's death last year, Ms Pender was very interested in biking. Her brother Mark was killed in a motorbike accident in June of last year. One concern of her family is that she may still have been depressed about his death.
"We are appealing to anyone who can identify the man seen talking to Fiona in Dunnes Stores to come forward. Everything they say will be in total confidence. We are also appealing to anyone who may have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem to them, about Fiona's movements on Friday 23rd, to speak to us as soon as possible," said Insp Wheeler.
It is believed that Ms Pender wearing a blue T shirt, white leggings, and a knee length pink and black waterproof jacket. She is 5ft 5ins, and although seven months pregnant is of slim build and has long blonde hair.
Anyone with information is asked to contact gardai in Tullamore at 0506 21305.