Gardaí seeking missing Finglas woman issue update on sightings

Gardaí in Finglas who are appealing for public assistance in locating Karen Scott, a woman with Down syndrome who went missing last Friday, have issued an update on her last confirmed sighting.

Gardaí say Ms Scott (44) was seen at a licensed premises located on Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 last Friday, June 24th.

She was seen on CCTV leaving the premises at approximately 9.40pm. She turned left on exiting the premises and can be seen turn left onto D’Olier Street.

She was wearing the same clothes as originally reported and she was in possession of her suitcase.

Ms Scott (44) has been described as “fairly independent” and “personable”, left her home in Finglas at 3.30pm on Friday.

She was seen on CCTV walking along Berkeley Road in Phibsborough on Friday evening. It is believed she was carrying a small amount of cash but did not have a passport or mobile phone.

Ms Scott is described as being 5ft 4in in height (162 cm), of medium build with blue eyes and short blonde hair. When last seen she was wearing white runners, a peach-coloured hooded top and black jeans.

When she left home, Ms Scott was carrying a red suitcase which had a number of clothing items inside. These included brightly coloured tops in yellow, green and blue, a mini skirt and shorts. She may have changed her clothes since Friday, gardaí say.

Speaking at Finglas Garda station on Tuesday, Inspector John Burke said gardaí were working closely with Ms Scott’s family and appealed to anyone with information, however small, to come forward. He said there had been a good response to appeals over the weekend and gardaí are following “a good few lines of inquiry”. He said no one had actually spoken to Ms Scott since she had left home on Friday.

Asked whether gardaí were investigating a reported sighting of Ms Scott in the Penney's clothing store on Patrick Street in Cork city, Insp Burke said gardaí were following up on a number of calls over the weekend of reported sightings of women who fit her description.

He added that there was no indication Ms Scott had left home to meet somebody.

“She’s very personable, she enjoys people’s company,” he said. “She’s very friendly and open. There had been no recent changes in her behaviour, all very normal.”

Insp Burke said she was “not overly familiar with technology” and did not use the internet.

He said Ms Scott had left home alone before, but never for longer than a few hours and never further than the city centre. Insp Burke added that she had previously asked pub customers for money when out alone and stuck for cash. He said there was no confirmation she had asked people for money last Friday.

At least 50 community members from Finglas have gathered together to carry out searches of the area, while a unit from the civil defence also assisted in Monday’s search. No personal belongings have been recovered in the search so far.

Members of the public with any information can contact Finglas Garda station on 6667500 or the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.