'Like someone stuck a knife in our hearts' family of missing Laois woman get Garda update

The brother of Imelda Keenan, the Laois woman who is missing now for over three decades, says the family is hurt and angry at a new update from An Garda Síochána.

Imelda from Mountmellick went missing in Waterford in January 3 1994, and despite searches and a Garda investigation, has never been found.

Her family who have campaigned publicly for information since she vanished up to the present day, met Gardaí on Saturday, September 11, to hear if they had decided whether to upgrade it to a murder investigation, giving the case more investigative resources.

The Gardaí have now told them it will remain as a missing persons case.

Gerry Keenan says the family are "very very angry" describing the news as "like someone stuck a knife in our hearts".

He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"In October, a review team told us they would fine comb through all the information from the time she went missing to the present date. We gave them plenty of time. We felt that it was another step on the ladder and they would look at it with fresh eyes. It's coming up on 32 years now, that's a lifetime on its own. We've done everything in our power. It all seems to be in vain at the stroke of a pen. We are very disappointed with the information we were told in Waterford Garda Station. 

"They sat with us and within the first five minutes we knew it was not news we wanted to hear. They told us straight, that without sufficient evidence, Imelda's case would still be classed as a missing person. When I left the station with the family, we are all in our 50s and 60s now, we did nothing only cry. It was like someone stuck a knife in our hearts.  I don't think I've cried so much in years. It was the biggest shock I've got in a long time. I've since shut myself away from everyone who knows about the case. 

Gerry Keenan holding a photo of his sister Imelda.

"We are very very angry with the outcome. Through the years they had told us without any body it would stay as a missing case. But then Jo Jo Dollard's case was upgraded to a murder investigation without a body either. Annie McCarrick's mother never put foot in Ireland, made a call to Dublin and at the stroke of a pen that case was upgraded to murder, with no body. 

"The Keenans have been left behind, Irish people who work here and pay taxes. The system has completely let us down. Are they not interested? Is the case too old? The guards we met in Waterford, the old stock is all gone, Imelda's case is still there. They say it's still high profile, but that's not good enough. We are hurt. It looks to us as if the case is closed, we are very angry. I want to let the people of Laois, Offaly and Waterford know that her case is still unsolved," Gerry Keenan said.

An Garda Síochána told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the case remains open.

"On the 11th of September 2025, following a full and in-depth review of the case, Senior Management at Waterford Garda Station and the Peer Review Team met with members of the Keenan Family to discuss the outcome of the review. The family were informed, that the case remains open and under investigation. It was outlined in our meeting that the investigation had been subjected to a full and rigorous review and that following that review the case remains designated as a missing person case at this time.

"An Garda Síochána in Waterford continues to actively investigate the case of Imelda Keenan who was reported missing on the 3rd of January 1994. Waterford Gardaí have conducted extensive enquiries into the case of Imelda Keenan and continue to appeal for any person who has information in relation to the disappearance of Imelda Keenan to come forward," they say.

The Gardaí outline their recent actions on the investigation.

"In October 2024, the investigation team in Waterford Garda Station along with colleagues from the Cold Case review team met with the Keenan family to discuss with them a review of the case that was to be undertaken in conjunction with the Serious Incident Peer Review Team.

"Following that meeting a number of press appeals were conducted, including Crimecall and on social media, appealing for anyone with information to come forward. As a result a number of additional lines of enquiry were commenced and explored.

"An Garda Síochána issued a renewed appeal on the 31st anniversary of the disappearance of Imelda Keenan. Gardaí also highlighted the ongoing investigation on Crimecall in December 2024," they said.

They believe Imelda Keenan is dead.
"In his Crimecall appeal in December 2024, Superintendent Gavin Hegarty outlined that it is believed that Imelda Keenan is deceased, and that it was the hope of An Garda Síochána that they would be able to bring closure on the case for the Keenan family and establish what happened to Imelda. That remains the goal and we continue to appeal to anyone who has information to contact An Garda Síochána.

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"An Garda Síochána continues to appeal to any person with information on the disappearance of Imelda Keenan, who has not previously spoken with the investigation team, or who may have spoken but not provided all of the information that they possess for any particular reason, or who may, with the passage of time, now be in a position to provide information to An Garda Síochána to contact the investigation team at Waterford Garda Station, the Garda Confidential Line or any Garda Station."