Fresh appeal launched for Mayo woman Sandra Collins who vanished 25 years ago

Today, Thursday, December 4, 2025, marks the 25th anniversary of the disappearance of Sandra Collins.

Gardaí in Killala, Co Mayo, are renewing their appeal for information and are asking the public if they have any piece of information which they feel might be relevant to this investigation to make contact with them.

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The last confirmed sighting of Sandra was on the night of Monday, December 4, 2000, at approximately 11pm at the Country Kitchen takeaway premises at George’s Street, Killala. She was 28 years of age at the time of her disappearance.

Sandra was also pregnant at the time, but had made the decision to terminate the pregnancy, says her brother Patrick.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Patrick said that Sandra said she couldn't have a baby and that she had organised a trip to England to get an abortion for December 20, 2000, but "she never obviously showed up for that appointment".

It's understood nobody had seen Sandra for nearly four hours before her last sighting in Killala on the night of Monday 4, 2000. 

"It was a really wet winter's night, and she's bone dry. No umbrella, nothing with her, just the fleece jacket that she was wearing," Patrick said.

"She went up to the counter as asked the woman for a large bag of chips. So enough really for two people," Patrick continues as he said this order would be unusual for as she would usually get something smaller.

"She took the chips in under her coat and she disappeared into the night and that's the last time anyone saw Sandra alive."

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Sandra's fleece jacket was found in the days following her disappearance near a local pier, but her body was never found.

Sandra's disappearance was a double blow for the family, as their 26-year-old brother James had been killed in an accident six months before Sandra vanished.

Her brother Patrick said that it's something that he can't really describe to people but it's the "closest thing to hell that there can exist on this planet, when somebody you love is out there and you don't know where they are and where they're buried".

Detective Inspector John Costello said: "Gardaí want to thank the public who have been of assistance in this investigation to date and are appealing to others who may have additional information to get in contact.

"Perhaps you have information you thought was insignificant at the time. Relationships change, loyalties change and people may not now be constrained by the set of circumstances that existed for them some 25 years ago. With that passage of time, people may feel more comfortable sharing information with Gardaí.

"Anyone who contacts An Garda Síochána will be treated with confidentiality, compassion and sensitivity.”

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An Garda Síochána continue to liaise closely with the Collins family in relation to this ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information can contact Ballina Garda Station on 096 20560, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.