The twin sister of missing Donegal schoolgirl Mary Boyle has claimed that the new Garda Cold Case Review into her sister’s disappearance is “a sham.”
Ann Doherty haas recently led two marches in the hope of new witnesses coming forward into her sister’s disappearance.
Little Mary vanished near her Uncle Gerry’s home at Cashelard outside Ballyshannon in 1977.
Gardai said recently that they are to launch a new investigation into the case and took part in a search on lands near the family’s farm at Cashelard.
However, nothing was found.
Ann claims the search was designed “to mislead the public and give an impression that the gardai are taking the case seriously… it is my belief they are not”.
“I believe that it is nothing more than a sham to delay justice further and an outrageous waste of public money”.
In her statement, Ann said she does not believe Gardai want to get to the bottom of her missing sister’s case.
“It is my opinion that An Garda Síochána have no intention of prosecuting the man who sexually assaulted and murdered my six year old twin in Cashelard in March 1977 and all who have shielded him for almost forty years, including members of their force”.
Ann has not publicly named the person she believes raped and murdered little Mary, as she hoped that justice would prevail through An Garda Síochána.
However, she said she may soon publicly name the person she believes killed her sister as she believes he is still a danger to other children.
“As a result, I may at some point revise that decision”.
“I believe the killer has been a danger to other citizens, especially children, for almost forty years. Through the years, I have been intimidated by members of the gardai for trying to find my sister’s remains and bring her killer to justice”.
“Mary was my identical twin sister and I miss her desperately every day… I despair about the fact that she did not get to live her life”.
She believes that if Mary was laid to rest “with decency”, having a grave to visit would help heal the pain of losing her sister.
Ann pleaded with the public to come forward to herself, Margo O Donnell, or Gemma O Doherty, but not to An Garda Síochána.
She also said that people can show their support for little Mary by wearing a simple purple ribbon.
Ann added “I know now that the Irish public are behind me in my search for my twin and they too want her remains to be buried with dignity and justice done for her”.