The PSNI have been asked to investigate claims that someone living in County Fermanagh may have knowledge about who was responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Donegal girl Mary Boyle almost 40 years ago.

Mary Boyle was six when she disappeared from her grandparents’ home outside Ballyshannon in County Donegal, on 18 March, 1977. Her disappearance is Ireland’s longest-running missing child case, and she has been described in The Guardian as “Ireland’s Madeleine McCann”.

The case has returned to the public attention following a new internet documentary by Irish journalist Gemma O’Doherty called ‘Mary Boyle: The Untold Story’. The documentary  outlines Mary’s twin sister Ann’s belief that Mary was murdered after being sexually abused; that she and her family know who killed Mary; that the man is still alive; that Mary’s body is buried near the Donegal border with Fermanagh; and that during the course of the 1977 investigation, it is alleged that a politician called the investigating gardaí and told them not to arrest or further question the suspect.

The Impartial Reporter understands that the PSNI has now been asked to investigate claims that someone living in Fermanagh may have information that could help catch the child’s killer.

Meanwhile, the Garda Serious Crime Review team is reportedly set to review the case and pursue all avenues of investigation.

Retired sergeant Martin Collins and former detective sergeant Aidan Murray spoke on the documentary, alleging that there was political interference in the investigation into the missing girl. They told Ms. O’Doherty that the chief suspect in the case could have been prosecuted had a phone call from an unnamed Fianna Fáil politician not been made to Ballyshannon Garda station during the investigation.

Retired sergeant Collins also warned that the person he believes to be the killer, is still alive and remains a danger to children. The retired guards dismissed earlier claims that linked Scottish serial killer Robert Black to Mary’s disappearance and reiterated their claim that they had been “speaking to the man who was responsible for the missing girl.”
Ms. O’Doherty has been working alongside Mary’s twin sister Ann and country singer Margo O’Donnell (sister of Daniel O’Donnell) for the past two years. The trio are seeking an inquest into Mary’s death. Ann Doherty’s solicitor Darragh Mackin, of Belfast-based KRW Law, told the documentary “the facts of this case are stomach churning”. 

Ms. O’Doherty and Ann have travelled to Stormont, Westminster, Brussels and Washington DC as part of her campaign to have Mary’s case solved once and for all. During their trips, representations have been made to numerous individuals including PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton and Arlene Foster, when she was acting First Minister.

In April they met Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin in Leinster House and their claims were forwarded to An Garda Síochána and the Garda Ombudsman.

Two TDs tabled parliamentary questions to the acting Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald in May, prompting the Minister to comment: “The disappearance of the person in question remains the subject of an ongoing Garda investigation and I am advised that the Garda Review Team is endeavouring to advance the investigation and that all avenues of investigation are being pursued in this regard. 

"In these circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the case, nor would the establishment of a parallel Commission of Investigation be warranted.”

A Donegal mother has organised a march to highlight Mary’s disappearance for this Saturday in Ballyshannon at 2pm.