Twenty-one years after a Dublin schoolboy disappeared, a crime-fighting service has launched a new campaign to help gardaí discover what happened to Philip Cairns.
The Irish Crimestoppers Trust is offering a €10,000 reward for information on Philip's disappearance. Last night's RTÉ Crimecallprogramme featured a reconstruction of the 13-year-old boy's last known movements.
Philip was last seen on the Ballyroan Road in Rathfarnham on Thursday, October 23rd, 1986, and, despite extensive investigations, no trace of him has been found. He had left Coláiste Éanna secondary school at 12.45pm and returned to his home on Ballyroan Road for lunch. He left the house at 1.30pm to walk back to school, which was the last time he was seen. Philip's school bag was found in a laneway, which links Anne Devlin Road and Anne Devlin Drive, near to the school the following week.
Irish Crimestoppers Trust spokeswoman Paula Eager said gardaí were confident that someone knew what happened to Philip and she urged anyone with information regarding his disappearance to come forward.
"Please call Crimestoppers or the gardaí in Rathfarnham if you know what happened, " Ms Eager said. "Your call will be dealt with the strictest of confidence and you don't need to leave your name or address."
Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on freephone 1800 25 00 25 or gardaí in Rathfarnham can also be called on (01) 666 6500.
