THE body of a 35 year old man missing for three days was found in woods near Abbeyleix, Co Laois, yesterday.
Gardai and local people recovered the body in the de Vesci estate at 11.30 am. The man, who was married with two children aged three and one, was reported missing last Friday from his home in Boley, outside Abbeyleix. Gardai say foul play is not suspected.
Meanwhile, concerns remain for the safety of three others who have disappeared.
A building worker, Mr Patrick Curran, (29), was last seen in the Break for the Border pub in Dublin on the night of December 7th. Mr Curran, originally from Kerry but now living in Dublin, was with friends celebrating a foremen's stag at a party.
He left the party around 1.30 a.m. on the Sunday.
His workmates assumed he had gone home when he failed to turn up for work and they contacted his family the following day. Mr Curran's bank account and passport have not been touched.
His father, Mr Noel Curran, last night appealed for anyone with information to contact him on 01 8570280.
The missing man is 5ft 10in with light brown hair and a light moustache. On the night he disappeared he was wearing a blue denim shirt, black trousers and black shoes.
Searches of south Dublin and Co Wicklow have failed to produce any breakthrough in the search for the missing Bray woman, Ms Siobhan Murphy (32) who disappeared on December 13th.
She left her house in Casement Park, Bray at around 3.20 p.m. to walk to the DART station where her car was parked.
She is 5ft 3in, of stocky build, with reddish straight hair cut in a bob. She was wearing jeans, a "grandfather" shirt and a trench coat.
Gardai have released a new photograph of Ms Fiona Pender (25) of Tullamore, Co Offaly, who has been missing for over four months. Ms Pender, who was due to give birth on October 22nd - was last seen on August 23rd.
A hairdresser, Ms Pender was last seen by her boyfriend, Mr John Thompson (25) as he left their flat on Church Street, Tullamore to go work at 6.30 a.m.
She was wearing a navy T shirt, a black and pink waterproof jacket, white leggings and white runners. She is 5ft 5in and has long blonde hair.
Gardai have had reliable sightings in London of Eoin Madden (17) who has been missing from his home at Beechlawn, Dundrum, Co Dublin since September 30th.
Meanwhile, the body of another a missing person, Ms Joan Reynolds (27), whose family live at Drumraney, outside Athlone, was recovered from the Shannon in the town on December 18th. Ms Reynolds had been missing for a week. Foul play is not suspected.