Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

A facial reconstruction image of the body found in 2006.

Body washed ashore in Scotland in 2006 may have come from Dublin Bay

The Scottish Cold Case Unit at Glasgow Caledonian University have used facial reconstruction and tidal flows to try and solve the mystery.

COLD CASE INVESTIGATORS have launched an appeal today to help identify the body of a woman that washed ashore in Scotland 16 years ago.

Mystery surrounds the discovery of human remains on a beach at Port Logan, Stranraer, in November 2006 with missing person reports in the UK checked without success.

Investigators now suspect the woman may have entered the water in the Dublin Bay area based on tidal flows, the weather and the location of where the body was found.

She is believed to have been in the water for up to six months so she may have gone missing in the spring or summer of 2006.

A series of posters, social media posts, a video and a dedicated webpage will appeal for help from the public over the coming weeks.

The campaign, launched by the Scottish Cold Case Unit at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and the missing persons charity Locate International, will use an updated facial reconstruction image of ‘Port Logan Woman’ produced last year.

As part of the appeal, the team have produced a list of more than 400 contacts across the country who will be encouraged to share details of the case.

It’s thought the woman was aged between 30 and 50, was of thin build and between 4ft 11in and 5ft 4in tall.

She was wearing size 10 black Bay Trading trousers, a white BHS size 34c bra and tan-coloured tights when she was discovered on Wednesday 22 November, 2006.

Dr Maureen Taylor, co-director of the Scottish Cold Case Unit at GCU, said:

“The team have been undertaking a number of enquiries around the clothing she was wearing, a geographical profile of the location she was found, sea and air incidents and missing women from the UK and Ireland.”

“Although she was found in south west Scotland, it may be that she had lived in, spent time in, or had travelled to or from Ireland.”

“Is there a friend or relative that you haven’t heard from or lost contact with who may have gone missing in the spring or summer of 2006? Is there someone who used to come to your place of work or leisure activities that you no longer see?

“We hope the facial reconstruction jogs someone’s memory and adds more pieces of the puzzle as to who she might be.”

She urged anyone with information to fill out an online form.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
10 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Donohue
    Favourite Noel Donohue
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 11:53 AM

    Please God it might bring closure to some unfortunate family if the poor Lady is identified R.I.P

    279
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lillipe
    Favourite Lillipe
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 12:15 PM

    Did BHS ever have stores in Ireland given she was wearing a BHS bra. There was some but not huge amount of online shopping then so more likely she bough in store. In the UK.
    The bay trading comp was in ire and UK but given the bra is most likely UK purchase doesn’t it seem more like she was UK origin..

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Jones
    Favourite Lisa Jones
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 12:19 PM

    @Lillipe: Dublin had a BHS store on Henrt Street but that was gone by the 1990s I think.

    87
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peadár Ó'Cearnacháin
    Favourite Peadár Ó'Cearnacháin
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 12:42 PM

    @Lillipe: BHS were on O’Connell Street where Penny’s is now.

    89
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Broomfield
    Favourite Marie Broomfield
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 8:12 PM

    @Lillipe: why is the bra the deciding factor of where she may be missing from? The bra might have been bought in England, her tights in Scotland and her pants in Ireland. Stranger things do happen! It doesn’t actually say she isn’t from the UK anyway. It’s saying she may have lived in, spent time in or had travelled to and from Ireland.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lillipe
    Favourite Lillipe
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 10:14 PM

    @Marie Broomfield: yes which is why they should focus on those missing family members from the UK given she is most likely UK origin. We had two elderly English people living in a bungalow down the country and no one missed them for months as they lay dead, the poor souls. If she was Irish someone would have missed her, sure aren’t we a nation of nosy oul Biddy’s

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rachel Ray
    Favourite Rachel Ray
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 1:26 PM

    Tights with trousers probably means not in high Summer, right? Also seems like something an older woman would wear. Both clothing brands are modest ‘value’ ones so I wouldn’t discount someone being Irish just because the bra may have been from the 90s or an outlet etc. Hope she finds her home again.

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Marie Broomfield
    Favourite Marie Broomfield
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 8:19 PM

    The police aren’t asking ye to figure out where she comes from.they’re only asking if people in Ireland know of a woman who hasn’t been heard from since that time. Lol. You’re not very good at it anyway. Ie just because a bra is most likely from a UK store doesn’t mean she has not lived in or spent time in or travelled to Ireland. Doesnt mean she isn’t a Irish either.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bernadette Reynolds
    Favourite Bernadette Reynolds
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 6:48 PM

    The BHS bra is a bit of a red herring. It’s been gone from Dublin about 30 years or more. Only Irish store.
    Though I sadly know of a lady who was believed to have entered the Tolka River in Glasnevin and was found on a beach on the west coast of Scotland

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adawin O'Connor
    Favourite Adawin O'Connor
    Report
    Sep 6th 2022, 7:44 PM

    BHS was also in Belfast and finally closed 7 or 8 years ago.

    11
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds