Disappearance of Conor and Sheila Dwyer

By 1991, Conor and Sheila Dwyer resided at their home in Chapel Hill, Fermoy. By the time of their disappearance, both their adult sons were living and working in London.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/crime/how-a-german-connection-could-hold-the-key-to-the-mystery-of-cork-couple-who-disappeared-without-trace-in-1991/a1068149546.html|title=How a 'German connection' could hold the key to the mystery of Cork couple who disappeared without trace in 1991|date=January 3, 2024|website=Irish Independent}} Their son, Conor Jr., later described he and his brother had a "happy and normal" upbringing in the household. He also remembered his father had a tendency for practical jokes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/fermoy-conor-and-shelia-dwyer-missing-2452743-Nov2015/|title=Mystery in Fermoy: The couple who vanished into thin air one day in 1991|first=Michelle|last=Hennessy|date=November 29, 2015|website=TheJournal.ie}}

Conor had previously worked as a hackney cab driver and plumber, and by 1991, was employed as handyman and chauffer for the German businessman and multi-millionaire Fritz Wolff. Wolff owned a property in Castleyons, outside Fermoy. As part of his employment, Conor often drove a vintage Rolls Royce owned by Wolff, which many in Fermoy assumed Conor himself owned. Conor was regarded locally as a "colourful character" who had a great love of "sleek, prestige" cars.Evening Echo, 7 June 1991 One resident later remembered given Fermoy was primarily a working class area at the time the sort of cars Conor drove did not go unnoticed.

In 1969, Conor went before the local court in Fermoy on a charge of assaulting a youth following an incident where three young men were knocking on doors in the Chapel Hill area and running away before the resident answered. These incidents apparently continued for a number of weeks at the end of the previous year and upset a number of residents, including the Dwyers. After another occurrence of these, Conor intercepted one of those responsible and gave them a kick in the rear. After Conor voluntarily informed the Gardaí of the incident, the sympathetic judge later did not issue a punishment.Irish Examiner, 15 April 1969Corkman, 19 April 1969 In 1974, in one instance Conor was fined for dangerous driving during his work as a hackney cab driver. He did not turn up to court and was fined by the judge.Irish Examiner, 5 April 1974

One profile written about the couple after their disappearance, which featured an interview with Conor's brother, indicated Conor had been previously hospitalised for depression and had suffered from it since.Irish Times, 8 May 1993

It has also been erroneously suggested Conor had previously disappeared in the 1980s for a number of years and returned to his family home with no explanation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/13+years+ago,+Conor+and+Sheila+Dwyer+vanished+off+the+face+of+the...-a0114897740|title=13 years ago, Conor and Sheila Dwyer vanished off the face of the earth. Nobody knows what happened but some locals have their own ideas. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com}} However, aside from this one example, this detail never features in articles or appeals related to the case nor is a previous disappearance of Conor listed anywhere on the public record. Notably, his brother, had earlier stated prior to May 1991 Conor had never gone missing before.Irish Times, 8 May 1993 Otherwise Conor was described by one neighbour as "fond of life" and "a man who was never in bad form."{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-couple-who-vanished-without-trace-from-fermoy/30672202.html|title=The couple who vanished without trace from Fermoy|first=Graham|last=Clifford|date=October 19, 2014|website=Irish Independent}}

Sheila worked as a homemaker.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/five-more-bizarre-unsolved-irish-mysteries-76205|title=Five more bizarre unsolved Irish mysteries|first=Gerard|last=Donaghy|website=The Irish Post}}She was described by as "a lovely, polite woman" and often noted for dressing "elegant."Irish Times, 8 May 1993 Sheila also had a close relationship with her sisters Maisie and Nellie, regularly phoning them in the weeks before May 1991.Sunday Press, 21 February 1993

A colleague of Conor's who also worked on Wolff's property remembered him as a "kind, gentle and honest man" and the couple "just nice people to be around."{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41384545.html|title=Fresh appeal for information into mysterious disappearance of Cork couple Conor and Sheila Dwyer|first=Mairead|last=Sheehy|date=April 29, 2024|website=Irish Examiner}} Their son, Conor Jr., stated in an interview, "I didn't know anyone who disliked them, and I can't see them having any enemies. They were local, friendly, respected people." Conor and Sheila were described by friends as a close, but reserved couple "who kept to themselves" and generally well liked in their community. They were also regarded as "inseparable" and kept up a weekly routine of shopping, attending church and contacting family and friends.

Conor Jr. later recalled he spoke by phone to his parents on the St. Patrick's Day before their disappearance and they "seemed fine". The couple were also in the process of selling a plot of land they owned elsewhere in the town, and had just received an offer on it.Sunday Press, 21 February 1993

Strangely, over a year before the couple's disappearance, William Fennessy, a 54 year-old former Fermoy town councillor, had also gone missing. Similarly to the Dwyers, Fennessy's car, a Daihatsu Charade, could also not be traced. Despite initial speculation, Fennessy's disappearance was determined to have no connection to the Dwyers, but it was striking a similar incident had happened in the vicinity of Fermoy during the timespan of 14 months.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/news/three-people-two-cars-and-a-mystery-that-wont-go-away/26087358.html|title=Three people, two cars and a mystery that won't go away|date=May 18, 2001|website=Irish Independent}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/the-living-nightmare-of-the-north-cork-triangle/37704071.html|title=The 'living nightmare' of the 'North Cork triangle'|date=January 12, 2019|website=Irish Independent}}

The last known physical sighting of the couple was walking from their home towards the nearby St. Patrick's Church to attend a funeral on 30 April. They were greeted by a local girl who knew the couple. The following day, on 1 May, the last known contact was when Sheila briefly spoke by phone to her sister Maisie, with the former indicating nothing was wrong.

No-one spoke to the couple for over three weeks, which raised the alarm for Sheila's sisters, Maisie and Nellie.Sunday Press, 21 February 1993 The sisters initially called other relatives, friends of the couple and even a colleague of Conor's to try and locate them. The couple had previously gone away for a week or two on holiday before, but had always returned, and never without indicating their plans to someone.Irish Times, 8 May 1993Evening Echo, 7 June 1991 On 22 May, at the request of family members, Gardaí gained entry to the couple's property on Chapel Hill. The house appeared undisturbed, with the beds neatly made, electrical appliances off and some blinds down. The couple's passports were located and glasses belonging to each of the couple were found on the living room couch. One item of note found was a biscuit tin containing money over £1,000 Irish pounds in a secret location only known to family. Similarly, no major financial withdrawals were listed on their bank accounts. There was also much of the couple's clothing still present, indicating they had not planned a lengthy trip.Sunday Press, 21 February 1993

The only object of note missing belonging to the couple was Conor's car, a white Toyota Cressida, with the licence plate number 5797 ZT. Gardaí have since speculated locating the car is the key to solving the case.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newstalk.com/news/like-they-stepped-off-the-face-of-the-earth-mystery-of-missing-cork-couple-32-years-on-1461641|title=Conor and Sheila Dwyer mystery 32 years on - 'Like they stepped off the face of the Earth'|first=Jack|last=Quann|website=Newstalk}}

At the time of their disappearance, Conor and Sheila were respectively 62 and 61. Conor was described in reports as 5'8" in height and weighing 11 stone. He had dark hair parted to the right, wore dark-rimmed glasses, was a pipe smoker. He was dressed in a check sports jacket with a navy lightweight trenchcoat. Sheila was described as 5'4" in height, with fair/blonde hair. She was last seen in a light woollen tailored jacket, with white leather walking shoes.

Given the proximity and prominence of the River Blackwater through Fermoy, Garda divers searched the river several times. There was also searches of the quays around Cobh in West Cork.

Ferry records in Ireland indicated no car matching the description or licence plate of their car had left the country during this period. Similarly, an appeal if any parts being sold of a car matching its make and description drew no response.

There had been speculation the couple were involved in financial trouble or Conor had become involved in the illegal drug trade, but neither rumour was substantiated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/fermoy-conor-and-shelia-dwyer-missing-2452743-Nov2015/|title=Mystery in Fermoy: The couple who vanished into thin air one day in 1991|first=Michelle|last=Hennessy|date=November 29, 2015|website=TheJournal.ie}} Some friends of the couple allegedly suggested the possibility of a suicide pact but no evidence of this has been found.

In 1993, a reconstruction of the couple's last known movements and a public appeal by Gardaí was featured on the programme Crimeline broadcast on RTE One. This resulted in potential leads from the public for the investigation.

There were numerous reported sightings of the couple across Ireland and occasionally overseas.Irish Times, 8 May 1993Sunday Press, 21 February 1993 A woman from Ballyvollane, near Fermoy, believed she spotted the couple at an airport in Lourdes, France in June 1991 and later recognised them on the Crimeline appeal into their disappearance. Prior to this, she had been unaware of the Dwyers; however, the appearances and behaviour of the couple she briefly interacted with had struck her at the time. In 1993, there was another possible sighting in Munich, Germany; however, Bavarian Police and Interpol were unable to confirm it. The location initially intrigued Gardai because of Conor Dwyer's employment for Fritz Wolff. Wolff himself had been interviewed by Gardaí but had been out of the country by the time of the couple's disappearance. Gardaí generally believe any sightings of the couple since 1991 were well-intentioned but mistaken.

In 2000, acting on a tip, Gardaí searched a quarry in Aherla, west Cork, but nothing related to the couple was found. No further explanation was provided on the background that led to the search.

In 1997, the couple's home on Chapel Hill was sold in a public auction along with a separate site they owned elsewhere in Fermoy. This followed a court order obtained by the Bank of Ireland, with the proceedings of the sale shared between the bank and the Dwyers' relatives.Irish Examiner, 26 March 1997

In 2008, a radio programme entitled 'Into Thin Air' was broadcast by Documentary on One on RTE Radio 1. The programme looked at the respective disappearances of both the Dwyers and Fennessy.

Former neighbours and the Dwyers' son, Conor, were interviewed. At the time, Conor gave the view his parents could possibly still be alive. He also added, "I question myself sometimes. Why this, why that, why the other thing? How? Why? When? What? I don't know. And that's what keeps you awake at night. It rattles around in my brain all the time. There's a void of information. It's very bizarre and inexplicable — it's a living nightmare."{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/radio/podcasts/3640000-none|title=DocArchive: Thin Air|website=RTÉ.ie }}

In 2012, in Fermoy, a routine dive by a local sub aqua search and rescue team in the Blackwater river found William Fennessy's car with his remains inside, over two decades since he was reported missing. The nature of the discovery, particularly in close proximity to where Fennessy was last seen, has led to speculation the Dwyers' car could similarly be found in the nearby river and perhaps missed on previous searches.

In 2017, the obituary for Maisie Sweeney referred to her sister as "the late Sheila" which indicated a widespread belief among the family the couple were deceased.{{Cite web|url=https://rip.ie/death-notice/mary-maisie-sweeney-cork-fermoy-298787|title=Death notice of Mary (Maisie) Sweeney|date=February 3, 2017|website=Rip.ie}}

In 2023, the lead detective noted that, in relation to the case, Gardaí still "get calls and emails from the public and we welcome that." He emphasised nothing in terms of theories has yet been ruled out, including the couple's car entering the River Blackwater; however, "that is just one possibility".

In 2024, similar to 1993, a re-enactment of the Dwyer's last movements and public appeal by Gardaí featured on the now re-titled Crimecall. The appeal also asked members of the public for information if the couple ever visited Cobh or other areas regularly in their car. Gardaí were also eager to talk to anyone who may have conversed with the couple around the time of their disappearance. The renewed appeal came as it was reported that Gardaí were re-examining the case file and interviewing surviving witnesses along with the original investigation team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/crimecall-on-rte/crimecall-episodes/2024/29-april-2024/missing-persons-investigation-conor-sheila-dwyer.html|title=MISSING PERSONS INVESTIGATION – CONOR & SHEILA DWYER|website=Garda}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/its-baffling-gardai-appeal-for-help-to-solve-33-year-old-mystery-of-missing-cork-couple-conor-and-sheila-dwyer/a1322879035.html|title='It's baffling' – gardaí appeal for help to solve 33-year-old mystery of missing Cork couple Conor and Sheila Dwyer|date=April 29, 2024|website=Irish Independent}}

In 2025, it was reported that Gardaí were pursuing new leads as a result of the appeal from the previous year. Several people had come forward with new information related to Conor's employment and interactions with the couple in the months before they disappeared. One line of inquiry being investigated was Conor's conversations with work colleagues in the weeks leading up to his disappearance.

The mystery of the couple's disappearance continues to be featured regularly in news articles and true crime podcasts.{{Cite web|url=https://coirpodcast.blogspot.com/2019/03/episode-11-conor-and-sheila-dwyer.html|title=Conor and Sheila Dwyer- Cóir: An Irish True Crime Podcast Episode 11 |date=March 18, 2019|via=Blogspot}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuMJ17zzVGo|title=Ireland's most baffling missing persons case - Couple vanish without trace|date=May 2, 2024|via=YouTube}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcDnoyWLCDA|title=THE VANISHING IRISH COUPLE: What Happened to Conor & Sheila Dwyer? - Radio Espial EP60|date=November 23, 2024|via=YouTube}}

• List of people who disappeared

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Category:1991 in the Republic of Ireland

Category:1990s missing person cases

Category:Missing person cases in Ireland

Category:People from Fermoy