Gardaí end dig for man who has been missing since 1991

Gardaí have ended their dig of a site in a Co Kerry forest as part of the investigation into the disappearance of a man more than 25 years ago.

The fresh search for Charles Brooke Pickard’s remains began two weeks ago after officers received new information on his abduction, following renewed appeals in recent months.

Mr Brooke Pickard had moved from England to the White Strand at Castlecove on the Ring of Kerry with his wife Penny and four young children in the 1980s.

He was abducted in a car park near his home shortly after leaving his house to go turf-cutting on April 26th, 1991.

Mr Brooke Pickard, who was 43 at the time of his disappearance, was bundled into his van by a group of up to five men wearing balaclavas and carrying shotguns. He has not been seen since.

Gardaí suspect he was abducted by hired gunmen from Northern Ireland in a dispute involving drugs money.

Three weeks later, his navy Ford Transit van was found burned out in Shronaloughnane Forest, in the townland of Derrennageeha near Waterville, Co Kerry, about 43km from where he was abducted.

New search

The site of the new search by gardaí in Killarney was in a Coillte forest off the Waterville/Ballaghisheen road, about 20km from Waterville.

Gardaí consulted with an anthropologist for the search and members of the Defence Forces helped in the operation.

The search ended on Friday evening without Mr Brooke Pickard’s body being found.

Gardaí said their investigations will continue and they are still receiving new information on the case.