A protest urging the Donegal County Coroner to hold an inquest for
missing Mary Boyle is to be held today.
The protest, which is being organised by the Justice for Mary Boyle
Campaign, will take place outside the office of Dr Denis McCauley in
Stranorlar at 10am.
The protest is being held to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the
disappearance of the little Co Donegal girl at Cashelard near Ballyshannon
on March 18th, 1977.
Mary was last seen around 3.30pm leaving her grandparents home and
following her uncle Gerry who had gone to a neighbour’s house less
than 500 yards away to return a ladder which had been borrowed.
However, half-way on the journey she told her uncle she was turning
back and was never seen again.
Despite an exhaustive investigation, no trace of the little girl has
ever been found and she remains Ireland’s longest missing person.
At today’s vigil, the Justice for Mary Boyle campaign plans to hand
over a petition signed by more than 10,000 people.
Joe Craig, a cousin of missing Mary, said the protest is being held as
the group feels that Mary is being denied her basic human right of an
inquest.
“We will be handing over a physical copy of an online petition which
will have 10 thousand signatures and a private letter signed by family
members pleading with the coroner to open an inquest into the
circumstances surrounding Mary’s disappearance so that we can have
clarity on this matter whilst some of the adults who were there that
day in 1977 are still alive.
“We would like to welcome all members of the general public who wish
to support us to gather there at 10 am on Saturday morning until
midday,” he said.
Among those expected to protest at the event are members of missing
Mary’s family including her twin sister Ann.
