The sisters of Mary Duncan, who vanished 42 years ago at the age of 17, have made an emotional appeal for information. Mary left her home in Bonhill, West Dunbartonshire, on the evening of 19 March 1976, telling her family she was going to meet a friend, but never returned.
At a press conference in Dumbarton, Debbie Renwick, Mandy Duncan and Marion McFarlane urged the public to come forward with any details. Ms Renwick, 56, described Mary as a quiet, happy girl who worked as a machinist. 'In March 1976 she simply went out to visit her friend in Tullichewan and never came home. This was out of character for her and has always been a cause of concern for us,' she said.
Ms McFarlane, 59, said even the smallest piece of information could be the missing piece of the jigsaw. Mandy Duncan, 53, became emotional as she added: 'We just want her home. We just want her back.' Mary had a two-year-old daughter Laura at the time of her disappearance, who died later that year of natural causes.
Detective Superintendent Calum Young, leading the renewed investigation, said he believes the answer lies in the local community. He confirmed that the sisters' stepfather, Norman Duncan, who was jailed for five years for historical sexual offences against girls, had been spoken to as part of inquiries. 'When Mary left she was 17, she had a young child and her disappearance was completely unexpected and out of character,' he said.
Mary was last seen wearing a mid-length navy skirt, black platform shoes, a green hooded zipped top and a black and white dogtooth check coat. Police are urging anyone who knew Mary or saw her in the area around Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria to come forward.
