'We simply want answers for Jean'
Family mark six years since disappearance
As Ireland takes on the presidency of the European Union, the sister of missing Munterconnacht woman Jean Tighe hopes the case will be prioritised during engagements over the next six months.
“We hope that every opportunity will be taken to continue engagement and co-operation between the Irish and Portuguese authorities, so that Jean’s case remains a priority,” Leona Tighe told the Celt.
Monday, July 13, marks the sixth anniversary of the disappearance of Jean, who was staying in a Portuguese resort at the time she went missing. She left her hostel on July 13, 2020, and hasn’t been seen since.
Her sister, Leona, is appealing to all elected representatives to use this opportunity to engage with the Portuguese authorities on Jean’s case “so that every avenue continues to be explored”. “We hope Jean’s case will continue to receive the attention and support it deserves. “Sadly we are no further today than we were then and that’s incredibly difficult to accept,” a tearful Leona told the Celt. “It’s just impossible for our family to believe that so much time has gone by without the answers which we’ve been waiting and praying for.”
Hopeful
Despite this, she said they “remain hopeful” that one day they will know what happened to their beloved sister.
Jean was visiting Parede, a charming town with beautiful beaches, bars and restaurants at the time of her disappearance. Although it’s not described as a typical tourist hotspot, it is about 20km from Lisbon where those looking for a quieter experience can go. She had been staying in the Help Yourself Hostel, where staff saw her leave that day.
The following day, July 14, the staff contacted the police to say that one of their guests, Jean, had not returned, despite paying for the room for one more night.
Jean was a seasoned tourist and had been staying in Portugal for several months before, however she was due to travel home to Ireland on July 15, a fact the family only became aware of later through their own investigations.
As her social media accounts appeared to remain active, the Tighe family did not find out that the then 38 year old was missing until that Christmas, when she did not return home.
They reported her as missing with An Garda Síochána, however they had not been contacted by the Portuguese authorities before then.
Jean was not officially placed on a missing person list until three years after she first went missing. The family have previously called for a “comprehensive review” of Jean’s case, however to their knowledge this has not yet taken place.
“If such a review has taken place, we have not been informed of its findings,” Leona said. She’s still calling for that review to happen “to ensure every appropriate investigative step has been taken to identify whether there are any further opportunities to find answers”.
They believe this review in particularly important given that Jean disappeared during the Covid-19 pandemic, at a time when emergency services personnel were working under “extraordinary circumstances”.
The family say they have not had any further communications from the Portuguese authorities for over one year now. “Families deserve to be kept informed wherever possible,” she believes.
“Knowing the case remains active is very important to our family.”
Leona said people often ask the family how they cope, to which she responded “the truth is we don’t really cope”.
“You adapt because you have no other choice, but you’re carrying this sadness with you every day. There’s always something missing because we don’t know what happened to Jean, but we have never given up hope and we never will.
“Jean is loved beyond measure, and she is missed every single day and we simply want answers for Jean.”
She appealed: “If anyone has any information no matter how small or insignificant they think it is, we ask them to come forward. The information could make all the difference.”
She praised local TDs for their “unwavering commitment” to the case.
Recently, neighbours from Munterconnacht went to Lourdes and remembered Jean in their prayers. “Their kindness has meant so much to our family, and we want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported us over the past six years in any way big or small.”
MEP Maria Walsh is among the Members of European Parliament who have been made aware of Jean’s case.
“I share in her family’s concern,” she told the Celt.
In her role as an MEP, Ms Walsh has committed to raising Jean’s case at EU level. “I intend to share the case of Ms Tighe with my Portuguese colleagues and explore ways in which we can push for progress and updates from the Portuguese authorities.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and its Embassy in Lisbon, meanwhile, have provided consular assistance to the Tighe family in relation to the disappearance of Jean.
“Our Embassy in Lisbon has also engaged extensively with the competent authorities to seek updates on the progress of the investigation and to support the family to engage with the investigation team,” a spokesperson said.
They said their teams at HQ and in Lisbon remain available to the family.
A spokesperson from An Garda Síochána stated: “All information held by AGS has been forwarded to Portuguese authorities.”
They also said that a family liaison officer has been appointed by Portuguese authorities and this is the agreed point of contact with the family of Jean Tighe.