Tomorrow, January 3, marks the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of 22-year-old Laois woman Imelda Keenan.
Imelda was last seen on Monday, January 3, 1994 in Waterford. Since then, Gardaí have continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
On the eve of her disappearance, Gardai have renewed their appeal for information.
On Monday, the Irish Independent reported that a new witness had come forward to Gardai early last year.
The paper reported that a woman who knew Imelda in the early 1990s contacted Gardaí with details about a number of frightening incidents involving the young woman that took place in Waterford before her disappearance.
The witness, who recently gave a formal statement to gardaí, first met Imelda in 1990.
She moved from the Waterford area before Imelda’s disappearance and realised she had vanished only after watching a TV programme on Ireland’s missing women earlier this year.
Ahead of the anniversary of her disappearance, Gardai have released a statement.
They said: “Imelda was originally from Mountmellick, Co. Laois, but had settled in Waterford City where she lived in an apartment with her boyfriend at the time.
“On the day she went missing, Imelda had informed her boyfriend that she was going to the post office in the town.
“She left her apartment at 1.30pm and walked down William Street onto Lombard Street.
“The last known sighting of Imelda is at this time when she was seen crossing the road by a local doctor’s secretary who knew her.
“The secretary and a friend saw Imelda crossing the road at the corner of the Tower Hotel and Lombard Street.
“Imelda was subsequently reported missing by her brother, Edward the following day.
“Despite an extensive Garda investigation, there have been no further confirmed sightings of Imelda.
“30 years on, Gardaí and Imedla’s family are appealing for people to come forward to assist with the investigation.
“Gardaí would encourage anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward to them.
“Gardaí can be contacted at Waterford Garda Station on (051) 305 300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.”
They have published an image of Imelda Keenan of when she went missing and also what we believe she may have looked like in her 30s:
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