Brother of Missing Woman Makes Urgent Plea for Information

The brother of missing Mayo woman Sandra Collins has renewed his appeal for information regarding a fleece jacket that holds significant relevance in the case. The jacket was discovered on December 9, 2000, just five days after Sandra vanished without a trace from Killala, Co Mayo, marking the 25th anniversary of her disappearance.

Patrick Collins believes the fleece jacket, found on Killala pier, did not arrive there coincidentally. He and his family suspect it was deliberately placed to suggest that Sandra had taken her own life, a notion that has haunted them for years. “This belief sadly succeeded for a number of years,” he stated in a recent interview.

In his renewed request for information, Patrick urged anyone who may have seen the jacket or been asked to dispose of it to come forward. “Even after all this time, someone may remember something—perhaps a sighting or a conversation—that did not seem significant then but does now,” he emphasized. He poignantly asked, “If this coat could only speak, what would it say?”

Sandra was just 28 years old when she disappeared on December 4, 2000. She was last seen around 11:15 PM at the Country Kitchen premises on George’s Street in Killala. Earlier that evening, she had purchased groceries for her aunt, Ann O’Grady, and her neighbor. After returning home, she left again and visited a local takeaway, where she was last seen.

Four days later, her fleece jacket was found on the pier, still containing a half pound of sausages that Sandra had bought for her aunt. This detail adds to the family’s belief that she was abducted and potentially murdered. Patrick shared his thoughts on the case, stating, “Deep down, I know she’s gone, but I can’t accept it because we have no coffin to bury her in and no grave to visit.”

Reflecting on the emotional toll the situation has taken on the family, Patrick noted, “We are the ones left carrying this burden for 25 years. We just want her back.” He urged anyone with information to reach out to the local authorities, specifically the Ballina garda station or the Garda Confidential Line.

Patrick expressed frustration over the prevailing assumption that Sandra may have taken her own life. He pointed out that the circumstances surrounding her last known activities do not align with that theory. “The idea that she took her own life never sat right with us,” he remarked. He highlighted that Sandra had ordered food for “two people” at the takeaway, which was unusual for her.

As the 25th anniversary of Sandra’s disappearance approaches, the Collins family remains steadfast in their quest for answers. Patrick’s appeal serves as a reminder of the ongoing suffering his family endures. “Imagine how you’d feel if it was your sister, your aunt, your niece,” he urged the community. “Whatever went on, an innocent family is suffering.”

The family continues to call on the public for assistance and urges anyone with relevant information to come forward. Patrick’s message is clear: the answers to Sandra’s disappearance likely reside in Killala, and he hopes that the community will support their search for closure.