About 20 people each year are never traced

Of the estimated 2,000 people who are reported missing in the State every year, around 20 are never heard from again. Last year that figure trebled, according to Father Aquinas Duffy, who runs the MissingIrishPeople.com website.

The vast majority of those reported missing turn up safe and well within a very short period. But for about 60 families the agony ends with the discovery of a body.

There have been calls on the gardaí to establish a special missing persons unit in order to devote more time and resources to mounting continuous searches for long-term missing persons. Last month Kilkenny TD Mr John McGuinness and Mrs Mary Phelan, the sister of missing Callan woman Ms Jo Jo Dullard, visited the US on a fact-finding mission.

They met a number of missing persons police agencies there and have requested a meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne to press for a US-style missing persons bureau here.

As well as Ms Claire Boylan's case, gardaí are also seeking assistance in their efforts to trace a number of other people who have gone missing in recent months.

This month Dublin gardaí launched an appeal for information on the whereabouts of 16-year-old Neil McCabe, from Grange Abbey Grove, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.

The teenager was last seen on Sunday, 14th April 2002 at Bayside Walk, Dublin 13. He is 5 feet 4 inches, of slim build with a pale complexion. He has long fair hair and blue eyes.

In February, Limerick man Mr Tony Brosnan (53) went missing. He was last seen on February 9th walking on Lahinch beach. He was using a VW transporter van at the time. The vehicle was found in Kilkee earlier this month but nothing has been heard from Mr Brosnan.

Last December, Mr Timothy O'Connell (43) went missing from his native Cork. Gardaí in Togher say he was last seen at his home in Ballypheane on December 17th. He was driving a wine-coloured Toyota Carina at the time, which he also used as a taxi.

Gardaí at Baltinglass, Co Wicklow are seeking the public's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of Mr John MacLeod (61) of Barrack Street, Ballymore Eustace, Co Kildare. He was last seen at his home on October 3rd.

He speaks with a Scottish accent and was driving a silver Hyundai estate.