Police force that handled Madeleine McCann case face renewed criticism in search for missing Cavan woman
Jean Tighe from Cavan was holidaying alone and was last seen in Parede, a Portuguese holiday resort, on July 13, 2020. She was 38 years old when she went missing
A police force that has faced world wide criticism over its investigation into the disappearance of English child Madeleine McCann has again come under fire from family and friends of a missing Irish woman after it emerged that it took three years before her name was added to a missing persons' database
Jean Tighe from Cavan was holidaying alone and was last seen in Parede, a Portuguese holiday resort, on July 13, 2020. She was 38 years old when she went missing.
Jean was on her second visit to the area that year and had booked a flight on July 12 to return home to Ireland. However, she has not been seen since leaving the Help Yourself hostel in the tourist resort the following afternoon, July 13.
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Jean was expected to return to the hostel that night but did not. She had been seen leaving the hostel by a hostel worker and that hostel worker has claimed that Jean left with a Brazilian man, who has not yet been traced.
Despite repeated efforts from Irish authorities, it took three years before her name was added to a missing persons' database in Portugal.
Now, Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith, a family friend, has hit out at bungling cops from the same force that has been heavily criticised for their efforts in trying to find English child Madeleine McCann, since the then-9-year-old went missing in May 2007.
Smith slammed: "The McCann family had serious reservations about how this force handled their case and I would have the same feeling about this one. Let me put it as strong as this, the Portuguese authorities have serious questions to answer and have not been very forthcoming with the answers."
He added: "Despite repeated efforts from Irish authorities, it took three years before her name was added to a missing persons' database in Portugal. Very understandably, Jean's loving family are distraught and have been at their wits' end over her disappearance. Those concerns are shared by their many friends in the community in Cavan and neighbouring areas.
“To put it mildly, the investigation into Jean's disappearance has been totally inadequate. It is simply just not good enough.”
Deputy Smith has raised the issue repeatedly with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach. As Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar raised the case directly with his Portuguese counterpart and just this week, Simon Harris said he would also get involved in the matter.
“The Tighe family has got no response whatsoever as to why the Portuguese police authorities did not use modern investigative and search tools to trace Jean,” Smith added.
“The family is very patiently awaiting results but sadly they have had no substantive updates from any authorities. The Government and our authorities must be robust and demanding in their ongoing contact with the Portuguese authorities to get an update on what has been done and what has not.”
Jean Tighe's sister Leona has outlined the difficulty involved in getting information from Portugal, saying: “When a loved one disappears abroad, one needs strong people around you to support you emotionally, and professional allies with the skillset and wherewithal to guide you on the journey, help you in interaction with the local authorities, and apply political pressure to ensure the case is not forgotten.
“Because you’re dealing with a language barrier, different police systems, legal systems, people and culture, and trying to fend for yourself in this unfamiliar territory is both hugely frustrating for you and potentially detrimental to the case of the missing (person), depending on the extent to which emotion boils over, with the danger of bridges being burned.”
A Garda spokesperson said: “An Garda Síochána does not provide commentary to media in respect of investigations being conducted in other jurisdictions. All information held by AGS has been forwarded to Portuguese Authorities.
"A family liaison officer has been appointed by Portuguese Authorities and this is now the agreed point of contact with the family of Jean Tighe. In keeping with agreed protocol, An Garda Síochána remains in a position to assist Portuguese Authorities and the family of Jean Tighe upon request.“
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