Sheila Dwyer

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

An Garda S Och Na Fermoy Garda (STATION)

Missing From:

Fermoy, County Cork

Summary:

Sheila Dwyer, age 60, disappeared from Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland on May 1, 1991, along with her husband Conor. The couple was last seen leaving St. Patrick's Church on April 30, 1991, and Sheila made a final phone call to her sister on May 1. She disappeared along with their white Toyota Cressida; all personal belongings and cash were left behind.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

On April 30, 1991, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Sheila and her husband Conor Dwyer were seen leaving St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Fermoy, which was located a short walk from their home at Chapel Hill. On May 1, 1991, Sheila spoke with her sister by phone. When her sister tried to call her again on May 19 (Sheila's birthday), there was no reply. Sheila's sisters then visited the house and found it empty. The couple was reported missing to Gardaí on May 22, 1991. Upon searching the home, Gardaí found both of the couple's passports, approximately £1,000 in cash, and all personal belongings including clothes (though some items were missing). Nothing in the house appeared disturbed. The couple's white Toyota Cressida, registration 5797 ZT, was not at the house and has never been located.

Additional Details:

Sheila was described as a quiet, polite, well-dressed housewife who was in good health. She was remembered by locals as lovely and well-liked, though she and her husband kept largely to themselves. The couple had two adult sons who were living and working in London at the time of their disappearance. Sheila's husband Conor was working as a chauffeur and handyman for German millionaire businessman Fritz Wolff. The case generated numerous reported sightings over the decades. In June 1991, Mary O'Dowd reported seeing a couple matching the Dwyers' description at Lourdes Airport, noting the man wore a cream trench coat and the woman had her hair up with a scarf. When gardaí showed her a photo in 1993, these matched the clothing items missing from the house. In 1993, another sighting was reported in Munich, which was of particular interest to gardaí given Conor's connection to a German businessman, but this was investigated and dismissed as a mistaken report. The Blackwater and Lee rivers were searched, as were ports, airports, and harbours. All ports were notified and no reports emerged of the car leaving the country. Bank accounts remained untouched. The case has remained open and active with the Gardaí for over 35 years. Multiple appeals, television reconstructions on RTÉ's Crimecall, and public calls for information have been made, most recently on the 35th anniversary in 2026.

Case Last Updated:

Jul 26, 2026