The disappearance eight years ago of a former Irish Life chief executive, Mr Brendan Hayes, was recalled at the High Court yesterday when Mr Justice Kearns granted Mr Hayes' widow an order that her husband is believed dead. The order is necessary for Mrs Sheila Hayes to deal with the estate.
Mr Hayes (43), of Muldowney Court, Malahide, Co Dublin, went to work on September 8th, 1992. His car was found at the summit car-park at Howth two days later. It is believed he went into the sea. Despite exhaustive land and sea searches, his body has not been found. Following his disappearance, Irish Life executives had initially feared he was kidnapped.
Mr Hayes was credited with much of the work behind the State's sale in July 1991 of some of its stake in Irish Life. It was only the second flotation of a State company and proved very successful, raising about £270 million. Mr Hayes was also a director of the Voluntary Health Insurance Board and the National Statistics Board.
In an affidavit yesterday, Mrs Hayes said when her husband did not return home on the evening of September 8th, she did not consider anything was wrong as he had an extremely busy and responsible position and often worked long hours.
She became concerned the following day and learned he had not shown up for work. She contacted gardai and continued searching herself. On September 10th, she found his car at Howth Summit. Mrs Hayes said she did not believe her husband was still living. If he was he would have long since contacted either herself or their five children.
A native of Dublin, Mr Hayes was a noted investment expert. He had been head-hunted by other financial institutions but remained with the company he joined in 1965. He qualified as an actuary in 1971. Mr Justice Kearns gave Mrs Hayes liberty to state as her belief, although not as a matter of fact, that her husband is dead.