The family of a Strabane woman who believed she was a victim of foul play 36 years ago have received an anonymous letter regarding her death.
The late Denise O’Donnell.
Denise O’Donnell (19) was found in the River Mourne about 120 yards from her home, two days after she went missing after attending a dance in Letterkenny in November 1976.
Now, her family have received a letter which they say contains information which supports their theory that she met her death through foul play.
An inquest into her death recorded a verdict of drowning.
Ms O’Donnell’s brother, Raymond Barr, has called on the author of the letter to come forward and meet the family.
Stating they would respect the writer’s anonymity, he said: “The letter contains a substantial amount of information that we feel only somebody who had a contact with the person they are talking about in the letter.
“We have no reason to doubt it is not genuine. It is very specific to the case and we are excited what is the letter and if the person who wrote the letter would come forward we will be able to take this s stage further.”
Mr Barr concluded: “We feel if we could get talking to them we will be able to progress the case.”
In 2012, the PSNI disclosed they were re-examining evidence into the death of Ms O’Donnell, a sister of now deceased Sinn Fein Councillor Ivan Barr.
At the time, it emerged a new 60-page dossier was central to the fresh investigation being carried out by “cold case” officers.
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