Sandra Collins was 28 years old when she went missing from Killala, Co. Mayo, Ireland on Monday 4th December 2000. She is the eldest of six children in her family. She was born to Eleanor and Francie who also had James and Bridie together. Francie, her father, died in 1978 and Eleanor remarried Joe Collins in the mid 80’s. They went on to have Patrick, David and Mary together.
The family experienced an earlier tragedy. Sandra’s younger brother James was killed in a workplace accident just six months before she disappeared. Her mother Eleanor passed away not knowing what happened to her daughter.
Sandra moved from her family home in Crossmolina at 16 years of age, temporarily to care for her aunt, but weeks became months and she soon became her full time carer. At the time of her disappearance, she was still living with her aunt at Courthouse Street, Killala.
She left her aunt’s home at 7.30pm to buy groceries, calling in on their elderly neighbour, William Johnston, to see if he needed anything from the shop. It has never been determined where Sandra was between 7.45pm, after her visit to Birrane’s shop, and the last sighting of her at around 11.15pm. This was in the Country Kitchen chip shop on George Street, Killala buying some chips.
When she disappeared Sandra was wearing black boots, black pants, a beige sleeveless top and a maroon/beige sleeveless fleece jacket. On Saturday 9th December 2000, her fleece jacket was found on the pier at Killala harbour. Tucked into the pocket of her fleece were the sausages she had bought earlier at Birrane’s grocery shop on the evening of her disappearance.
It is known that Sandra spent long periods in a local phone box in Killala, making and possibly receiving phone calls. Witnesses reported seeing her somewhat agitated and upset throughout the evening, but her exact movements, who she was with, between 7.45 and 11.15pm and thereafter remains uncertain.
Although her body has never been found, Sandra’s family believe she was murdered and that some local people must know who killed her. They also believe her fleece jacket was placed at the pier to make it look like she had taken her life. Her siblings have kept their promise to their father, Joe Collins, to continue the search for Sandra and to give her a dignified burial.
In 2010, her missing person case was upgraded to murder by Irish police.
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