FEARS were growing last night for the safety of missing Dutch woman Ms Brenda Winder (23). Ms Winder, who lived in Artane, Dublin, disappeared 13 days ago and has not contacted her friends or family since.
Her parents, Jan and Gitta Winder, yesterday called on anyone with information about their daughter to contact the gardai. They also appealed to Ms Winder: "If you are in need of help, please, just call us."
She was last seen at lunchtime on June 10th. She took the 20B bus from the terminus near Artane Castle to the city centre. Ms Winder is six foot one inch tall, slim, with long blonde hair. She was wearing a white "belly top", and faded blue, ripped, jeans, and was carrying a white plastic bag.
"We are very worried about her. It is terrible sitting here waiting for news. But there is not a lot we can do except wait," her brother in law, Mr Gerben Jansen, said. "Brenda did her own thing. She was very outgoing. She was very interested in nightclubs, making friends and having fun. But she always kept in touch with the family."
Gardai believe her disappearance is totally out of character. She had developed a close relationship with her landlady and would usually tell her of her plans.
On the morning of June 10th she collected her social welfare at the local post office and returned home. At about 12.30 p.m. she left the house at Maryfield Crescent, telling her landlady she was going to Gardiner Street social welfare office, and would then visit a friend in Sheriff Street. She would see her later that evening, she said.
There is no record her speaking to anyone in Gardiner Street and she did not visit her friend.
She did not collect social welfare the following week. Gardai believe she could not have had more than £80 when she went missing.
Ms Winder came to Ireland nine months ago and originally worked in a nursing home. She also had part time jobs in a number of nightclubs and pubs as well as a city centre clothes shop, but had been been out of work for a few weeks. She spoke English well, with a slight Dublin accent.
Her friend, Ms Margaret Devignat (26), whom she said she was going to see on the day she disappeared, believes she would never go away without telling anyone. "Brenda enjoyed her life, and really lived it. She was really into dancing, and we would go out together two or three times a week. Ireland was her second home. She had come because of a boyfriend, but they split up a long time ago, and she had stayed on.
"Brenda really stood out in a crowd. She was stunning looking really tall and slim.
"We had not arranged to meet that Tuesday, but she would often call anyway. We spent a lot of time together."
Anyone with information should contact Coolock gardai at (01)8480811.