GARDAÍ SEARCHING for a man who was beaten by a gang who then abducted him from a Dublin street believe he is dead. They have been combing agricultural lands as part of their efforts to find his remains.
The search for Ciarán Noonan, a 29-year-old Dubliner, has been ongoing at lands near Ashbourne, Co Meath, and at other sites in Meath and Dublin since the start of the week.
The missing man, a drug user, had been living in Ashbourne. The car in which he is believed to have been abducted was also found there and those suspected of being involved in his disappearance and presumed murder have also had addresses in Co Meath.
A Garda team yesterday searched land to the west of the old Dublin-Ashbourne road, close to the Coolquay Lodge public house.
On Monday and Tuesday the search team scoured an area of agricultural land on the Old Trim Road between Dunboyne and Trim, both in Co Meath. Properties in Meath and Dublin have also been searched.
However, The Irish Times understands that apart from blood on the car believed to have been used by Mr Noonan’s abductors, no evidence has been found to suggest where or how he was killed or where his remains are.
One Garda source said while “you cannot be certain” the missing man is dead, the search for him has, two weeks after his disappearance, evolved into a search for his body.
Gardaí believe Mr Noonan’s beating, abduction and his presumed murder are most likely drug-related. The last confirmed sighting of the missing man was on Russell Avenue, East Wall, on October 20th.
He was seen being beaten by a number of men, at least one of whom was armed with an iron bar, before being bundled into the back of the car and driven off.
Gardaí believe Mr Noonan was driven away in a distinctive black VW Golf with a spoiler on the rear, tinted windows, spoked wheels and bearing the licence plate 05-D-88805.
The car was later found at an underground car park at the Killegland apartment complex in Ashbourne at about 8pm on the day of the abduction.
Gardaí believe they have identified the man who was driving the car. However, efforts to find him have proven unsuccessful. He is known to gardaí but is not regarded as a major gang figure.
Detectives believe Mr Noonan most likely died in the period shortly after he was last seen alive in East Wall.
While gardaí presume he was murdered and his remains were dumped or disappeared, the investigating team have not ruled out the possibility that he may have died accidentally during the course of his abduction.
There have been two arrests, both of women suspected of withholding information. Both have been released without charge.