Search expanded for missing Dublin men in Co Cavan

A fresh round of searching is underway at lands in Co Cavan as part the investigation into the disappearance and presumed murders of two men last seen three weeks ago.

Eoin O'Connor (32), and Anthony Keegan (33), have not been seen since travelling to Co Cavan for a pre-arranged meeting on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Gardaí are working on the theory that the disappearance of the men, both of from Coolock in north Dublin, is linked to organised crime.

Investigating officers have received intelligence suggesting the men were murdered and their bodies dumped, and it is that information that today’s renewed search is based on.

While the area around the village of Mountnugent, Co Cavan, had been searched after the men were reported missing by their families, a team of more than 100 Garda members was today combing a wider area in their efforts to find any trace of the men or their remains.

The Garda Water Unit is also involved in today’s fresh searches, examining stretches of water in the area designated for examination.

They have been joined by the Garda Dog Unit, whose animals are specifically trained to search for remains or signs of human activity, including physical traces of a murder scene.

An intensive search of the countryside around Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan was carried out immediately the men went missing.

But efforts were diverted to Lough Owel in Co Westmeath following the discovery of the grey Ford Focus car with a 04 D 46830 registration in which the men had been travelling.

Gardaí believe they had gone to a pre-arranged meeting in or around the area but never returned home prompting their families to raise the alarm.

Lough Owel is located just off the N4 near Mullingar, about 90km from where the men live.

A group of up to 30 people, thought to be friends and family, maintained a presence at the lake throughout the initial searches.

However, while the search of the lake continued for a prolonged period no trace of the men was found in the water.

Gardaí are unclear if the men drove to the lake and were taken somewhere else or if whoever was behind their disappearance moved their car to the lakeside to confuse the Garda’s search for the men.

However, they believe Cavan was their intended destination.

Mr O’Connor was last seen on the evening of the April 22nd at Kilbarron Avenue, Coolock.

He is described as being 6 ft tall, stocky build with short brown hair and blue eyes.

When last seen he was wearing a grey track suit bottoms and a blue windbreaker type jacket with a hood.

Mr Keegan is described as being 5 ft 10 in tall, medium build with short brown hair and brown eyes.