Kilkenny Cold Case: Breakthrough in Marie Tierney murder investigation as new witness comes forward

Gardaí investigating the cold case murder of Marie Tierney, whose remains were discovered on the outskirts of Kilkenny City almost 34 years ago, have made a dramatic breakthrough following the emergence of a key new witness.
The witness provides a sighting of a person of significant interest to the gardaí in a new location outside Kilkenny City on the date Marie went missing. It is understood that this new evidence is of huge importance to the investigation.
Mother-of-two Marie Tierney of Clinstown, Jenkinstown, Kilkenny was reported missing to gardaí on October 22, 1984 by her husband James Tierney. Mr Tierney told gardaí that his wife had left the family home on Sunday night, October 21 1984 at 10.30pm in the family car and had not returned.
Investigations by Gardaí located the Tierney family car at Newpark Fen, Kilkenny the following day. A number of witnesses have made statements that they saw the car abandoned in Newpark Fenn at approximately 11pm on the night the 34-year-old mother was last seen alive.
On December 21 1984, just four days later, the body of Marie Tierney was discovered in a deep dyke on Bleach Road. The gruesome discovery was made by a man and his two children out walking. The remains were badly decomposed as they have been left out in the elements and had been interfered with by animals. The post-mortem examination concluded that presumed cause of death was strangulation.
Breakthrough
A number of key developments have taken place in recent weeks following the emergence of new witnesses who have come forward. It is understood that one of these witnesses was travelling on the Dunmore Road or Pike Lane at approximately 11pm on the night of October 21. The witness has made a statement that they travelled out the Castlecomer Road from Kilkenny City towards Castlecomer for approximately one mile. They then took a right turn off the Castlecomer Road onto a side road known as Dunmore Road or Pike Lane. The witness travelled up Pike Lane and met a cyclist cycling downhill on Pike Lane towards the Castlecomer Road. Gardaí wish to speak to the person on the bicycle or to any person who may have travelled on the Castlecomer Road and/or Pike Lane on the night of October 21 and witnessed a male on a bicycle.
Forensic developments
The remains of the mother Marie Tierney were exhumed on the morning of October 31. A number of examinations took place at Waterford Regional Hospital and the results are now known to gardaí.
More key evidence has been gathered from these examinations.
Anyone with information can contact Kilkenny Garda station on 056-7775000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666111.