Gardaí to investigate if Valdez murder is linked to missing midlands woman Fiona Pender

Mother of Offaly woman Fiona Pender makes 'heartbreaking' appeal

placeholder image — Mother of Offaly woman Fiona Pender makes 'heartbreaking' appeal

Gardaí are to investigate if there is any link between the suspected murderer of Jastine Valdez, and other long term missing women in the Leinster area.

Among those is Fiona Pender from Tullamore in Offaly, who was seven months pregnant when she disappeared in August 1996.

Also to be considered is Deirdre Jacob, who was just 18 when she disappeared on July 28, 1998 from Newbridge in Kildare (pictured below).

Jastine Valdez was abducted as she walked home near Ennniskerry in Wicklow on Saturday May 19.

Her suspected killer, Mark Hennessy, 40, was shot dead on by Gardaí on Sunday night May 20.

On Monday May 21 they discovered the body of Jastine Valdez hidden in dense bushes.

The results of her post mortem are awaited today.

The news that Gardaí will investigate any possible links to the other missing women from Leinster was announced on RTE's radio show Morning Ireland this morning.