Gardaí investigate cases of two missing

GARDAÍ HAVE launched investigations into the disappearance of a man and woman in unrelated cases in Co Laois and Co Kildare.

In the latest case, 30-year-old Aoife Phelan has not been heard from since the last sighting of her on Thursday night in Portlaoise, Co Laois. She is four months pregnant and fears are mounting for her safety.

Ms Phelan lives at the family home in Cashel, Ballyroan, about 8km from Portlaoise and on Thursday went to a friend’s house in Collier’s Lane in Portlaoise. She left there just after 8pm and has not been seen since.

A Garda investigation has tracked the last recorded trace of her mobile phone to a mast in Mountmellick, Co Laois. While she has friends living there, gardaí have yet to establish any evidence that she called to see them on the night she went missing.

Gardaí believe she failed to show for a pre-arranged lift home on Thursday night. When she did not turn up at the family home by early Friday and then failed to keep an engagement with friends on Friday morning, she was reported missing.

She is described as about 5ft 7in, of slim build and with long blonde or sandy-coloured hair and blue eyes. When last seen she was wearing jeans and a knitted jumper. She also had a red bomber jacket with her.

In the second missing person’s case being investigated, fears are growing for the safety of Co Kildare teenager Cormac Clare, who has not been seen for a week.

The 18-year-old was last seen at his home in Kilteel, Naas, Co Kildare, at 2am last Monday. He left his home on foot and gardaí believe he may have hitchhiked on the N7 or N81 routes.

Supt Pat Mangan of Naas Garda station said the search for Mr Clare had been extensive for much of the past week and his family were very concerned for his safety.

“This morning there are over 400 people, including local gardaí, Garda divisional search teams, the Garda water unit, Civil Defence and members of the public from the locality involved in the search,” he said.

Mr Clare is described as 6ft 2in and of thin build, with short brown hair. When last seen he is believed to have been wearing a navy jacket of the Regatta brand.

He was also wearing a winecoloured hoodie, navy Nike tracksuit bottoms, and trainers, and may have had a small green rucksack.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact gardaí in Naas on 045-884300.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Aoife Phelan is asked to contact gardaí in Portlaoise 057-8674100.