Thieves take vital papers in hunt for missing Amy
Thursday May 06 2010
IMPORTANT documents relating to the disappearance of Irish teenager Amy Fitzpatrick were stolen when burglars broke into the home of her family's lawyer, it was revealed yesterday.
The thieves struck on Monday night at Spanish lawman Juan de la Fuente's detached €1m villa near Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol.
Amy's mum Audrey Fitzpatrick (41) and stepdad Dave Mahon (38) had recently handed him files of paperwork on the search for their daughter.
The burglars took thousands of euro in cash as well as the documents, but left behind around €30,000 in valuables including paintings and a plasma screen television.
Laptop
In August 2008 the couple's home in Riviera del Sol, near Fuengirola, was broken into and a laptop they were using in the search for Amy was stolen, as well as her old Nokia mobile phone.
Yesterday Dave said: "They broke into our lawyer's house on Monday night shortly after we got back from a trip to Ireland.
"We were all out for dinner together and when he got home he discovered the break-in.
"We had handed over a number of important documents following our trip to Ireland. They were stolen, as well as some civil guard documents relating to the case.
"Some of the documents were in the back of the lawyer's black Seat Leon car, which was stolen. What is strange is that they left behind some very expensive valuables and a wallet which was left open on the side. That strikes us as very unusual. If it was a standard break-in, surely they would have taken the valuables and the wallet. We spoke to the Civil Guard about our concerns but they were not in the least bit interested."
The 32-year-old lawyer said the burglars got in to his property by forcing a locked garden gate. He added: "The stolen documents included confidential police reports about Amy's disappearance.
"I believe the burglary was related to Amy's disappearance. It makes no sense that they took documents which financially are worthless, and left behind all my expensive valuables like TVs, computers and music equipment."
Amy was 15 when she disappeared in 2008. Four friends in Ireland each put up €250,000 to help her parents find Amy. The reward is available until May 19.
Helpers have taken dozens of calls on the Spanish mobile (0034) 687202907.
- Tom Worden
Irish Independent
