The family of Imelda Keenan who went missing over 30 years ago say an ‘aged-up’ photo released by Garda of what she would look like today is a “waste of time.”
Yesterday marked the 31st anniversary of Imelda’s disappearance from Lombard Street in Waterford city and as part of a new appeal, Gardai issued a computer-generated photo of what Imelda might look like today aged 53, the Irish Mirror reports.
Imelda, from Mountmellick in County Laois, was 22 and living in Waterford for college when she disappeared without a trace. But her sister Mary and her niece Gina believe she was murdered and said they think the newly issued photo is misleading people into believing Imelda is alive.
The family of Imelda Keenan pictured at the spot where she was last seen
(Image: pic supplied)
“That was definitely a waste of time. As far as my family knows, the day she went missing is the day Imelda died. That’s the way I look at it,” Mary said.
“We weren’t really happy with it to be honest when we heard gardai were going to do that,” Gina added.
“Even though she is more than likely not with us anymore they don’t have a body so they have to put out that this could be what she’s like. But we don’t look at that picture and see Imelda. Imelda is forever young in our lives. I think it’s going to steer people away from what we actually know. The family knows Imelda is no longer alive.”
Imelda’s family are fighting for Gardai to upgrade the investigation to one of murder as they believe the young woman could have died before January 3.
“We’ve no proof that she’s out there. Nothing has stirred since the day Imelda went missing,” Mary said.
She said that her sister would “never” have run away.
Imelda Keenan who vanished 3rd January 1994
“She was the quietest one of us all. She had only a couple of friends you could count on one hand. The day she went missing is the day I always believed she died. She definitely went missing before Christmas. There was no sign of her from the 28th when my brother Ned seen her.”
Gina added: “I just wish the guards would listen to us. Imelda would not run away. She would not do anything like that. We’re telling them that we know Imelda and it’s not her character, it never was. This is just so out of character. I just don’t know why they are so focused on that statement on the 3rd of January.”
In a fresh appeal for information this week Superintendent Gavin Hegarty said that Imelda was seen leaving her apartment on January 3 to go to the GPO on on the Quays in Waterford and added that there was a sighting of her on the mall in Waterford around that time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardaí at Waterford Garda Station on (051) 305 300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
(Image: Internet Unknown)