The Vanishings, a chilling new series airing on Channel 5 this week, is based on the true and terrifying story of several Irish women who mysteriously disappeared in the late 80s and 90s. The six-part crime thriller features India Mullen in the role of Lisa Wallace, an investigative journalist.

After penning an article about her mother's murder, the killer re-emerges, suggesting a kidnapping. Lisa, along with Detective David Burkely (played by Allen Leech), delve into the case, linking the murderer to the vanishing of a woman named Amy Reynolds.

The term 'Ireland's Vanishing Triangle' was coined by the Irish press to describe a series of high-profile female disappearances in the eastern part of Ireland. These unsettling events occurred near the borders of Leinster, within an 80-mile radius outside Dublin.

All the cases bore striking similarities - the victims were all women aged from their late teens to late 30s who vanished without a trace or explanation, leaving no significant clues behind.

Irish authorities suspect that the bodies were concealed in remote fields, bogs and forests. Given the parallels between the cases, it was speculated that a serial killer could have been at large during this period.

In September 1998, police established an investigation task force named Operation Trace to probe into the unsolved disappearances of several women. Despite a €10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of a body, no significant leads have been found to this day.

The period also saw a series of homicides. Among the missing are Annie Bridget McCarrick, 26, who vanished in March 1993, and Eva Brennan, 39, who disappeared four months later.

Imelda Keenan, 22, went missing in January 1994, followed by Jo Jo Dullard, 21, in November 1995. Fiona Pender, 25, disappeared in August 1996, Ciara Breen, 17, in February 1997, Fiona Sinnott, 19, in February 1998, and Deirdre Jacob, 18, in July 1998.

There were also three murder victims - Angie Greene Smith, 27, Patricia Moriarty Doherty, 29, and Marie Kilmartin, 35. Angie was raped and strangled after disappearing post a David Bowie concert.

Patricia was strangled after her husband reported her missing on Day. Marie was strangled after a man called her landline from a phone box, seemingly prompting her to leave her house.

The Vanishing will air on Channel 5 on Thursday, February 6 at 9pm.