Since seeking to raise this issue on the Adjournment, I am pleased to learn the alleged abduction in Kildare has proved groundless and that the case has been resolved to the satisfaction of the Garda Síochána. Over recent years, I have spoken to many people concerned about the number of women who have gone missing and whose bodies have never been found. There are also a number of other women who have been murdered and whose bodies have been found but for whose murders no person has ever been charged.
I welcome the establishment of Operation Trace, based in Naas under the supervision of an assistant commissioner, which comprises six people working directly under a superintendent. The Garda personnel involved are re-examining the files of six of the missing people whose bodies have never been found. The families of some of the missing persons have a faint hope and hold dear to that hope that their missing family members are still alive. I am certain everyone in the House shares with me the grief and sadness for all the families involved and I offer them my sympathy in their loss.
The six people whose cases are being examined by Operation Trace are Annie McCarrick, who went missing in 1993 aged 26, and was last seen in County Wicklow; Jo Jo Dullard, who went missing in 1995, aged 20; Fiona Pender, from my own constituency, who went missing in 1996 aged 25; Ciara Breen, from Dundalk, who went missing in 1997, aged 17; Fiona Sinnott, from Wexford, who went missing in 1998, aged 19; and Deirdre Jacob, aged 19 from Kildare, who went missing in 1998. These were all young women from counties in close proximity to one another – Kildare, Wicklow, Offaly, Wexford and Louth.
Four other people are missing also. Antoinette Smith, went missing in 1987, aged 27 years; and Patricia Doherty, went missing in 1991, aged 30. The bodies of both these women were found in Kilakee. Eva Brennan, went missing in 1993, aged 40; her body was not found. The body of Marie Kilmartin, aged 36, was found on the Laoighis-Offaly border.
I strongly believe there is a connection between these ten cases. I welcome the fact that RTE and the local media continue to raise this important and sensitive matter. Did ten different people commit murder and get away with their crimes? The bodies of most of these women have not been found. This is a serious matter that is causing concern to many people.
I regret there is no sense of urgency in solving these disappearances. Many people have spoken to me about this matter. They do not believe there is a sense of urgency about it. Women are concerned for their safety. They used to go for walks on country roads, especially in the evening, but they are nervous about doing that now. Parents are also worried about the safety of their daughters, particularly when they go to a function at night. That is not good enough. We must ensure that people can traverse the country in safety.
It is essential that a determined effort is made by the Government to address this matter. We need an initiative like Operation Shannon which was very successful in putting a stop to attacks on people in their homes. Such an attack took place recently west of the Shannon and the Garda are making serious inquiries into that. Similar efforts are taken each year when the Garda Síochána launch a major initiative to clamp down on drunken driving.
The Minister should set up a special squad, under the direct supervision of the Garda Commissioner, which will investigate different areas. I believe these disappearances are connected. Murders were being systematically committed in Belgium but by the time the authorities became aware of a pattern, it was too late for many victims.
I hope we are successful in solving these crimes sooner rather than later. It is in the best interests of the public that the people who committed them are put behind bars for a very long time. It is of particular importance to women who need to be protected.
