Esra’s ill mum needs answers to mystery
ESRA Uryun’s sister Berna Fidan (51) has visited Ireland 25 times in the past six years.
Esra was approaching her 39th birthday when she went missing in 2011. Her car was found in the car park at the foot of Bray Head, overlooking the Irish sea.
Today ( Wednesday, March 1), is Esra’s 45th birthday. The English woman, of Turkish descent, was living with her husband and their son in Dublin.
Her sister Berna Fidan is now a familiar sight, a regular visitor to Bray, postering lampposts on the prom, from the day of her sister’s disappearance on February 23, 2011.
Now, the need for answers is even greater as the family just found out that Esra’s mother, Neriman Fidan (73), is seriously ill in the UK.
On the eve of the anniversary of her disappearance, gardaí renewed their appeal for information.
She left her home at Collinstown Grove, Clondalkin, in the family car which was a grey Renault Twingo, registration number 08 D 23067, at approximately 7.15 a.m., on the morning of February 23, 2011.
The car was later located on the promenade in Bray.
Esra is described as 5’3” in height, with dark hair and green eyes. When last seen she was wearing black leggings, white nike trainers, and a dark top.
Her mum Neriman has been diagnosed with cancer in recent weeks. ‘As we speak she is at the hospital with my brother discussing treatment,’ said Berna last Wednesday. ‘She has other health issues, so surgery could be the only treatment. She’s trying to play it down, saying she’s seen her children and grandchildren grow up. We’re trying to be strong for her, she’s trying to be strong for us. She just keeps saying “I just need to find out what’s happened to my baby.”’
‘People say, I can’t believe another year has gone,’ said Berna, describing people stopping to speak to her in Bray.
CCTV footage captured the car arriving in Bray, but not who was driving. Berna is appealing to people to come forward if they know anything.
‘Someone must have seen something,’ she said. ‘How can a person just vanish without a trace, with no sightings, no CCTV? Someone knows some- thing.’ Nobody laid eyes on Esra after she left the house that morning. Her purse was found in the boot of her car.
Berna said that Esra was making plans to welcome her mother to Ireland for a visit. She does not believe that her sister was depressed or took her own life.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Bray Garda Station on (01) 6665300, Ronanstown Garda Station (01) 6667700, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station. The strike at Tesco has been suspended as talks continue about the dispute at the centre of the action.
After 12 days in Bray, and nine in Greystones, staff are back at work as both sides go to the Labour Court.
A pedestrian crossing at the entrance to the Vevay Road store in Bray was restored mid-morning on Monday. The zebra crossing had been painted black by Tesco the previous week.
Local schools warned parents and children to be careful on Monday morning as the zebra crossing was still black as pupils arrived at schools on the Vevay Road.
The strike was suspended on Friday as Tesco announced it was engaging in Labour Court discussions.
‘ Tesco confirms that it is engaging in discussions instigated by the Labour Court to resolve the current dispute related to pre 1996 terms and conditions,’ said the store.
Mandate wrote to its members on Friday, who were on strike at 16 stores nationwide, and six stores due to join the strike, as well as all pre-1996 members at the centre of the dispute.
Tesco has agreed not to impose changes to the pre-96 contracts for the duration of the process.
In the letter, Mandate told workers ‘ that both parties agree that there will be an orderly and peaceful return to work and there are no recriminations either by or against staff or management as a result of the dispute to date.’
‘I would like to thank all of you for your personal resolve and solidarity during this most difficult time, we will keep you fully appraised of all developments as the discussion proceeds,’ Mandate General Secretary wrote in the letter.