Gardaí are continuing to search for the remains of a doctor’s wife in Co Clare, eight years after she disappeared from her family home, an inquest in Ennis was told yesterday.
Supt Gerry Wall outlined the details relating to the last sighting and extensive search for Irene Dillon (59) in October 2005.
He said that Mrs Dillon’s husband, the late Dr Joseph Dillon from Kilrush, reported her missing on October 18th 2005. Dr Dillon had reported that she was last seen at 9.30pm the previous night when she left the family home.
Supt Wall told the inquest: “Mrs Dillon had personal problems that may have caused her to be depressed.”
He said that on October 20th, a car’s tracks were found at George’s Head near the seaside resort of Kilkee. Mrs Dillon’s car was found in the water, upturned on its roof, near the headland and was extensively damaged.
Supt Wall said that Garda divers searched for the remains, but did not not recover them.
He added: “It is a very difficult thing to recover a body from that area of water. There was a very extensive search for Mrs Dillon”.
He said that there was “nothing untoward in the circumstances around her death.”
Supt Wall said that Mrs Dillon’s case remains on file with the Garda Missing Persons Bureau: “We still search for her.”
County coroner Isobel O’Dea said that she had to make a special request to the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to hold the inquest as the body of Mrs Dillon has never been recovered.
Ms O’Dea said that the appropriate verdict was an open verdict as there was insufficient evidence to record any other verdict.