Ireland Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case
Imelda Keenan, a 22-year-old Irish woman from Mountmellick, County Laois, was last seen in Waterford city on 3 January 1994 after leaving her flat at 1.30pm to go to the post office, and was reported missing by her brother the following day. No trace of her has ever been found, and the case has remained a missing person investigation with no suspect named or arrested. The family campaigned for over 30 years for a murder investigation upgrade, meeting Waterford Gardaí in October 2023 and October 2024 to present new evidence. In September 2025, Gardaí told the family after a full review that the case would remain a missing persons case, though Superintendent Gavin Hegarty stated it is believed Imelda is deceased. In November 2025, Laois councillors tabled a motion seeking the Minister for Justice to clarify national guidance on upgrading the case.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Imelda Keenan, a 22-year-old Irish woman from Mountmellick, County Laois, was last seen in Waterford city on 3 January 1994 after leaving her flat at 1.30pm to go to the post office.
- Her diary, glasses, cigarettes, purse and Christmas presents were left in her flat.
- Where
- She was last seen crossing the road at the corner of the Tower Hotel and Lombard Street, having walked down William Street.
- When
- She was reported missing by her brother the following day, and no trace of her has ever been found.
- Other details
- Reports differ on her age at the time of her disappearance, with some stating 22 and others 24.
- The case remains open and under investigation, with Gardaí continuing to appeal for information.
- Investigation
- The case has remained a missing person investigation since 1994, with no suspect named or arrested.
- The family formally requested a murder investigation upgrade in October 2023 and again in October 2024, presenting new evidence to Waterford Gardaí.
- In September 2025, after a full review, Gardaí told the family the case would remain a missing persons case, though Superintendent Gavin Hegarty stated it is believed Imelda is deceased.
- In November 2025, Cllr Tommy Mulligan tabled a motion asking the Minister for Justice to clarify national guidance on upgrading cases.
50 statements extracted from the articles
- whatImelda Keenan was 22 years old (longfordleader.ie)
- whatImelda told her boyfriend she was going to the post office in town (longfordleader.ie)
- whatImelda was reported missing by her brother Edward the following day (longfordleader.ie)
- whatThe family of Imelda Keenan are meeting senior gardaí to press for more action on the investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereImelda Keenan was originally from Mountmellick, County Laois (longfordleader.ie)
- whereImelda walked down William Street onto Lombard Street (longfordleader.ie)
- whereImelda was last seen crossing the road at the corner of the Tower Hotel and Lombard Street (longfordleader.ie)
- whereImelda Keenan was reported missing from her Waterford home. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereImelda Keenan vanished from her Waterford city flat. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereImelda Keenan is from Mountmellick (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe meeting with the family took place at Waterford Garda Station (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereImelda Keenan was from Mountmellick and was reported missing in Waterford city, where she lived. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenImelda was last seen on Monday 3 January 1994 in Waterford (longfordleader.ie)
- whenImelda left her apartment at 1.30pm (longfordleader.ie)
- whenThe meeting with senior Waterford gardaí took place on Thursday, October 19. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenImelda Keenan was reported missing on 3 January 1994. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenImelda Keenan vanished aged 22 over Christmas 1993. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenImelda Keenan went missing in Waterford on 3 January 1994 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe family met Gardaí on Saturday 11 September 2025 to hear the outcome of the review (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenIn October 2024 the investigation team met with the Keenan family to discuss a review of the case (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenGardaí highlighted the ongoing investigation on Crimecall in December 2024 (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenImelda Keenan went missing between December 1993 and January 1994. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeThe family believe Imelda Keenan was murdered before 3 January. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí renewed their appeal for information on the 29th anniversary of the disappearance (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationDespite an extensive Garda investigation there have been no further confirmed sightings of Imelda (longfordleader.ie)
- investigationThe family formally asked gardaí to upgrade the case to a murder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe family met the Waterford Superintendent and detectives to present new evidence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe family appealed for anyone with information to come forward. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationHopes are raised that the unsolved case will be upgraded to a murder investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe family believe a witness's report of seeing Imelda on 3 January is incorrect. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationAnother witness came forward in the past year after an RTÉ documentary. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationThe family were meeting Waterford gardaí on Thursday, 3 October. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationGardaí have decided not to upgrade the case to a murder investigation. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationHer brother Ned reported her missing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- investigationHer diary that she wrote in daily had disappeared. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherImelda Keenan was 24 when she was reported missing. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherImelda Keenan was from Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherNo trace of Imelda Keenan has ever been found. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherImelda Keenan's niece said the case should be upgraded so people could be questioned and an inquest held. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe Gardaí told the family the case would remain a missing persons case (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherGerry Keenan is Imelda's brother (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe family members are in their 50s and 60s (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe review was to be undertaken in conjunction with the Serious Incident Peer Review Team (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherPress appeals were conducted including Crimecall and social media (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherA number of additional lines of enquiry were commenced and explored (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherSuperintendent Gavin Hegarty stated it is believed Imelda Keenan is deceased (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe case remains open and under investigation (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherHer glasses, cigarettes, purse and Christmas presents were left in her flat. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherCllr Tommy Mulligan claims her flat was never examined in the investigation and that she had experienced numerous injuries before her disappearance. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherCllr Tommy Mulligan tabled a motion asking the Minister to clarify national guidance on upgrading cases. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Nov2025Laois councillors want Imelda Keenan case upgraded to murder investigation
Reports that Laois councillors are seeking a murder investigation upgrade, that gardaí have decided not to upgrade the case, and the family's specific complaints about the original investigation. No new arrests, charges or court proceedings.
victim, Imelda Keenan, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan - 22 Sep2025'Like someone stuck a knife in our hearts' family of missing Laois woman get Garda update
Family met with Gardaí on 11 September 2025 and were told the case would remain a missing persons case after a full and in-depth review. The family expressed anger and disappointment. Gardaí confirmed the case remains open, that it is believed Imelda Keenan is deceased, and that they continue to appeal for information.
victim, Imelda Keenan, female, Irish, irishImelda Keenan - 3 Oct2024Gardaí update family of missing Laois woman Imelda Keenan
Adds that the family were due to meet Waterford gardaí on 3 October 2024 to press for a murder investigation upgrade, and that a further witness came forward after an RTÉ documentary.
victim, Imelda Keenan, 22, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan - 19 Oct2023WATCH: Laois family call for murder investigation into missing woman Imelda Keenan
Family formally requested that the missing person investigation be upgraded to a murder enquiry and said they presented new evidence at a meeting with Waterford gardaí on Thursday, October 19. The article adds the family's request, the meeting, and the family's appeal for information. It does not name a suspect or report any arrest or charge.
victim, Imelda Keenan, 24, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan - 4 Jan2023Gardaí renew appeal for information on 29th anniversary of woman's disappearance
Provides specific details of the last known sighting: Imelda was seen crossing the road at the corner of the Tower Hotel and Lombard Street by a doctor's secretary and a friend, and was heading to the post office. Names her brother Edward as the one who reported her missing the following day. Confirms her age as 22 in this report.
victim, Imelda Keenan, 22, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan