Thursday 5 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Named in reporting

Imelda Keenan

Born 2001, from the ages reported. 5 reports across 1 case, 4 Jan 2023 to 3 Nov 2025

Victim: Imelda Keenan, Irish woman, 22 (reports differ: 24)Imelda Keenan

Key facts

from every report naming them
Named as
Victim
Born
2001, from the ages reported
Nationality
Irish, as stated in a report
Offences
Missing person case (murder upgrade sought)
Where
Co. Waterford
Reporting
5 reports, 4 Jan 2023 to 3 Nov 2025
Outlets
leinsterexpress.ie, longfordleader.ie

Photographs

as published, with the outlet's credit
Mountmellick woman Imelda Keenan, missing since Christmas 1993.
Mountmellick woman Imelda Keenan, missing since Christmas 1993.
Photocredit not given by the outletvia leinsterexpress.ie, 3 Nov 2025
Pictured Imelda Keenan from Mountmellick, and her brother Gerry who wants
Pictured Imelda Keenan from Mountmellick, and her brother Gerry who wants
Photocredit not given by the outletvia leinsterexpress.ie, 22 Sep 2025
"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.
"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.
Photocredit not given by the outletvia leinsterexpress.ie, 22 Sep 2025
Imelda Keenan's family marking the 30th anniversary of her disappearance on January 2
Imelda Keenan's family marking the 30th anniversary of her disappearance on January 2
PhotoJohn Hearnevia leinsterexpress.ie, 3 Oct 2024

Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.

Cases

latest first
  • Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case Missing person case (murder upgrade sought) · Co. Waterford

    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.

    No stage yetVictim · 5 reports

Timeline

every report naming Imelda Keenan, newest first

Each entry shows how that report described them.

  1. 3 Nov2025
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, in Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case
    Laois councillors want Imelda Keenan case upgraded to murder investigation
    victim, Imelda Keenan, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan
  2. 22 Sep2025
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, in Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case
    'Like someone stuck a knife in our hearts' family of missing Laois woman get Garda update
    victim, Imelda Keenan, female, Irish, irishImelda Keenan
  3. 3 Oct2024
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, in Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case
    Gardaí update family of missing Laois woman Imelda Keenan
    victim, Imelda Keenan, 22, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan
  4. 19 Oct2023
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, in Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case
    WATCH: Laois family call for murder investigation into missing woman Imelda Keenan
    victim, Imelda Keenan, 24, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan
  5. 4 Jan2023
    Otherlongfordleader.ie, in Councillors press for murder upgrade in Waterford missing person case
    Gardaí renew appeal for information on 29th anniversary of woman's disappearance
    victim, Imelda Keenan, 22, female, irish (judged from name)Imelda Keenan

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.