A CAMPAIGN for the establishment of a Garda missing persons unit is to be started by relatives of people who have disappeared.
They want the unit to reopen the cases of 17 people who have gone missing in recent years.
A pressure group to promote the campaign is being set up by Ms Mary Phelan and Ms Colette McCann, who have missing sisters.
Ms Phelan's sister, Ms Josephine Dullard (21), disappeared in November 1995. Ms McCann's sister, Ms Eva Brennan (39), went missing in July 1993.
Ms Phelan has criticised the Garda investigation into her sister's case and said a full-time Garda missing persons unit is needed.
"We feel the justice system has let us down," she said.
Seventeen people have disappeared in recent years. A specialised missing persons unit should reopen all the cases, she said.
Since Ms Dullard disappeared, Ms Phelan has been in touch with the families of other missing people, including relatives of Ms Fiona Pender who disappeared from Tullamore, Co Offaly, last August and of Ms Annie McCarrick who was last seen in Co Wicklow in 1993.
Ms Phelan intends to contact the families again to push forward the new campaign.