The heartbroken family of an Irish woman missing in Portugal have urged the Irish Government to intervene and help them find her.
Jean Tighe, 38, from Co Cavan, vanished in July 2020. She was last seen leaving a hostel in Lisbon.
She had been living in the Portuguese capital for several months and was reported missing by her boyfriend, who has since died.
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She told a worker at her hostel she was on the way to meet a male Brazilian friend when she disappeared. She left the hostel carrying her handbag.
The family don’t believe the Portuguese police are taking the case seriously as they have failed to examine extensive CCTV footage in the area around the hostel and didn’t interview any staff there.
She is still not officially on the Portuguese missing person’s list. The case has been raised with the Department of Foreign Affairs by Cavan-Monaghan TD Brendan Smith.
Jean’s sister Leona said: “We are very frustrated by the police investigation.
“We have not heard from her in two and a half years and have no idea where she is. All we know is she left the hostel to go to meet a Brazilian friend and we don’t know who he is.
“The police apparently didn’t go down to the hostel to interview witnesses after she was reported missing by her boyfriend. We believe she vanished on July 13,2020.
“We need the Portuguese police to pull out all the stops. We were told they wouldn’t put her on the missing persons list because they were investigating her disappearance and didn’t want to alarm any potential suspects.
“The police keep telling us that Jean has the right to go missing. Three backpackers who disappeared after her are on the missing persons list.
“We have been told the local police won’t do more unless our Government puts pressure on them.
“We would urge the Irish Government to intervene and do more.
“My family are heartbroken and devastated. It has taken its toll on everyone.
“Something terrible could have happened to Jean and we don’t know.”
Gardai say they have been in contact with the Portuguese police about the case and co-operated with them.
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