The twin sister of Mary Boyle, who has been missing for 46 years, says she wants to find her sister’s remains to give her a rightful burial.
Ann Doherty made the appeal on the anniversary of the disappearance of Mary Boyle. Mary, aged six at the time, vanished in Cashelard on 18 March 1977. She has never been found since.
The last reported sighting of Mary was by her uncle, Gerry Gallagher, who died in January this year.
On the 46-year anniversary of Mary’s disappearance last week, Ann Doherty said that she had asked gardaí to conduct new searches for Mary.
Ann told RTE Radio 1 she believes that Mary died on the day she disappeared and that her body is hidden in the local area.
“We have asked the guards for a few different searches and they haven’t materialised. For whatever reason or another we weren’t allowed access,” Ann said.
“I’ve tried everything I can think of to get Mary’s remains found and give her a dignified burial. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to have a grave to visit.”
Ann appealed for closure for her family’s sake, particularly her mother.
“All we want is closure,” Ann said.
“Even if someone came anonymously and said ‘she’s there’.
“It’s not about going after anyone. It’s about giving Mary the dignified burial. I want to put an end to it so that everyone can have a peaceful life.”
In a statement to RTÉ, gardaí said the investigation is ongoing under the direction of a senior investigating officer in Ballyshannon and a serious crime review was completed in 2017.
Listen to the interview on RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin here: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22226147/
