A NEW dig to find the remains of a Mary Boyle, who disappeared in mysterious circumstances at the age of six almost 34 years ago, began yesterday on a remote hillside near Ballyshannon in Co Donegal.
Gardaí confirmed they were assisting members of the girl’s family in the dig at Cashelard, five kilometres from Ballyshannon.
The dig has been prompted by the work of a Danish psychic hired by country singer Margo O’Donnell, who is a close friend of the Boyle family.
Mary Boyle disappeared on March 18th, 1977, while on a St Patrick’s day visit to her grandparents at Cashelard.
She is officially Ireland’s longest-missing person.
The dig, which will continue this morning, was initiated by the family.
Material taken from the ground yesterday will be examined.
The location for the dig was pinpointed by psychic Yan Sterns, who visited the hillside on Friday and recommended where he felt excavation should begin.
It was his third visit to the vicinity at the behest of Ms O’Donnell.
For several hours yesterday, Mary Boyle’s mother, Ann, waited for news of the dig.
She said there had been many leads over the years and she acted on them all.
Supt Jimmy Coen, Ballyshannon, confirmed gardaí were supervising the dig. “The Garda Síochána would act on any information supplied by the general public and in this case, as in any other, we would carry out an investigation based on any information supplied,” he said.
While Mary Boyle disappeared almost 34 years ago, the search for her remained “a live investigation”, he added.