French police are searching for a 47-year-old businessman from Listowel, Co Kerry who vanished without trace in Paris on September 9th, writes Lara Marlowein Paris
The man had travelled to France with his wife and two adult children to attend a furniture show, and was to have taken a flight to Cork on Sunday afternoon. He was filmed leaving the Étoile Méridien hotel, near the James Joyce pub, by CCTV cameras in the morning.
He had told his wife he was taking a stroll around the city and would be back at 10am, in time to leave for the airport. He carried a small rucksack with several books and his passport.
The missing man takes daily medication for high blood pressure and his wife is concerned that he would have run out by now. He had recently suffered headaches and was inclined to forget. The woman and the couple's 18-year-old daughter returned to Listowel to look after a younger daughter, but she is to return to Paris today.
A 20-year-old son and the sister-in-law of the missing man have stayed on in Paris to search for him. They have been joined by Jimmy Deenihan, the Fine Gael TD for Kerry North, who has known the family his whole life.
The family and Mr Deenihan have met with the Irish Embassy and the French police's missing persons unit. They are searching hostels, hospitals and morgues, and are considering an appeal to French media to publicise the case.
French police questioned the family in detail about the man's relationships and financial situation. Those close to him say he is very happy, loves his children and appeared to have no serious problems.