GARDA SNIFFER dog teams have begun a search of open ground in parts of north and west Dublin for a teenager missing for 12 days.
Daniel McAnaspie (17), who is originally from Finglas, Dublin, has not been heard from since he was seen drinking in a housing estate in Blanchardstown in the early hours of Friday, February 26th. Some 60 gardaí, including members of a number of specialist units, are now working on the case full time as fears for his safety grow.
Daniel, who is one of six siblings and whose parents are both deceased, has gone missing in the past up to 20 times. However, until now he has only ever been unaccounted for for periods no longer than one day.
Officers working on the case say they are unable to electronically track his mobile phone.
They have described his prolonged disappearance as “very uncharacteristic”, and believe people in Finglas and Blanchardstown have information about the disappearance.
Daniel was seen at around 4.30pm on Thursday, February 25th, close to Erin’s Isle GAA club in Finglas. Gardaí believe he then travelled in a car with people known to him to Blanchardstown.
He spent a period drinking in a house in the Whitestown Avenue cul-de-sac.
He remained in the area into the early hours of the following morning, and was last seen on the street in the cul-de-sac drinking with others at around 3.30am. There have been no other confirmed sightings of him since then.
He was wearing a navy tracksuit bottoms, navy jacket and white runners. Daniel is described as being of 5ft 7ins in height, of slim build and with short brown hair.
At a media briefing in Finglas yesterday about Daniel’s disappearance, Supt John Gilligan said the missing teenager’s five siblings and aunts were now “very concerned”.
When asked if the investigation was regarded as being more sinister than a missing persons case, Supt Gilligan said: “In this particular case it’s a more serious concern we have.”
He said Garda search teams comprising local members from west and north Dublin, the Garda Dog Unit, Garda Mounted Unit and Garda helicopter were searching large areas of land and some lakes from Whitestown all along the N3. The Tolka River is also being searched.
“We are determined to follow this, to pursue it to the limit. We have serious concerns, as do his family.”
Gardaí do not believe Daniel has the financial resources to sustain himself over the period he has been missing. He also does not have access to a vehicle.
Supt Dave Dowling, who is leading the investigating with Det Supt Walter O’Sullivan, said the investigating team has already had co-operation from the public.
However, gardaí want to hear from people in the community in Finglas and Blanchardstown who have information about Daniel’s disappearance.
He said anybody with information on the case could contact Blanchardstown Garda station in strict confidence on (01) 666 7000.