Investigation into missing Cavan woman 'totally inadequate' - Smith
The investigation into missing Cavan woman Jean Tighe has been castigated as "totally inadequate" by Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith.
The Cavan-Monaghan TD, who is friends of the Tighe family, told the Dáil the family are distraught by her disappearance.
His remarks coincide with the four-year anniversary of Ms Tighe's disappearance. Ms Tighe was last seen in Parede, a Portuguese holiday resort, on July 13, 2020. She was 38-years old when she went missing.
Despite repeated efforts from Irish authorities it took three years before her name was added to a missing persons database in Portugal.
“Very understandably, Jean's loving family are distraught and have been at their wits' end over her disappearance. Those concerns are shared by their many friends in the community in Cavan and neighbouring areas,” Deputy Smith said.
“To put it mildly, the investigation into Jean's disappearance has been totally inadequate. It is simply just not good enough.”
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Deputy Smith has raised the issue repeatedly with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach. As Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar raised the case directly with his Portuguese counterpart.
“The Tighe family has got no response whatsoever as to why the Portuguese police authorities did not use modern investigative and search tools to trace Jean,” he said.
“The family is very patiently awaiting results but sadly they have had no substantive updates from any authorities. The Government and our authorities must be robust and demanding in their ongoing contact with the Portuguese authorities to get an update on what has been done and what has not.”
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Taoiseach Simon Harris in response told Deputy Smith he understood that Portuguese police have been investigating Jean’s disappearance but that sadly no strong leads have materialised as of yet.
“A member of An Garda Síochána in Portugal, the Irish Embassy in Lisbon and the ambassador have engaged with Portuguese police a number of times,” the Taoiseach said.
“The Tighe family has also been working with a family liaison officer. In August of last year, An Garda Síochána and the Portuguese police met via video conference and Ms Tighe's photo and profile was added to the Portuguese police's missing persons website.
“My predecessor raised the matter with the then Prime Minister of Portugal. I will now directly seek an update myself. I say to the Tighe family that I am very happy to raise the matter with my counterpart in Portugal and to come back to Deputy Smith directly.”