Irish diplomats have engaged in extensive talks with the Spanish authorities over missing teen Amy Fitzpatrick and are hopeful of a breakthrough.
It is understood they have passed on new information about the case given to them by the 15-year-old's aunt Christine Kenny and father Christopher. The move follows an extensive private meeting between the family and the Tanaiste and Foreign Minister Micheal Martin ten days ago.
It's believed some fresh leads in the hunt for the teen have come from an individual in Spain who privately contacted the family in recent weeks. The precise details have not been made public. The Fitzpatricks have requested the Spanish police investigating the 2008 disappearance, the Guardia de Civil, upgrade the case from a missing person's probe to a full-scale murder investigation.
Read more: Police won't rule out digging up site where Amy Fitzpatrick thought to be buried
Under Spanish law, a judge would have to give the police the green light for that to happen. Amy's file has been literally sitting in the Fuengirola police station for several years now with nothing happening.
The Guardia de Civil said they could not treat her disappearance as murder until they get new information. The Fitzpatricks believe Amy is long dead and want to find her body to bring her home and bury her.
Her aunt Christine who is leading the public campaign to find Amy said: "We accept that something terrible has happened to her. If she was alive she would have contacted her father by now, they were very close."
The Fitzpatricks gave Minister Martin documents related to the case. It is believed they have also been passed on to the Spanish authorities.
A Government insider said: "There has been contact between the Government and the Spanish. Irish diplomats in Madrid are now giving this top priority. The Spanish justice system has always said it was open to new lines of evidence.
"There are very good relations between the two countries. We can not promise anything and do not want to build the family's hope up but we are hoping that there can be some positive developments."
The Fitzpatricks previously had a tip off that Amy was buried in stables at the old Fuengirola race track about ten minutes away from where Amy lived with her mother Audrey and step-father Dave Mahon.
They are demanding that the whole area be dug up and searched by the Spanish police. The Dept of Foreign Affairs said: "We are providing consular assistance to the family, including following up to the recent meeting between the Taniste Micheal Martin and relatives of the citizen concerned. We can not comment on the details of the individual case."
Amy was last seen alive by her best friend Ashley Rose as she walked home on the night of New Year's Day in 2008. It is understood if a murder inquiry is launched everyone connected with the case will be interviewed by the Spanish authorities.
Amy's brother Dean was stabbed to death by his stepfather Dave Mahon after a row in 2013. Mahon claimed it was an act of self defence and served five years jail for manslaughter. He and Audrey currently live in Co Leitrim.
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