Gardaí have said they are increasingly concerned about the welfare of Co Wicklow man Philip O’Toole, who went missing from the Bray area two weeks ago.
On Mr O’Toole’s 33rd birthday yesterday his father Brendan O’Toole joined gardaí in Bray in appealing for anyone who has information to come forward.
Previously been shot
The missing man had previously been shot and he had also been warned by gardaí recently that his life was in danger. He has been heavily involved in serious crime and gardaí are fearful his criminal background is linked to his disappearance.
Garda sources said he may have been killed by rival criminals, possibly by a gang from Finglas in Dublin, before his remains were disposed of. However, the same sources said they were keeping an open mind on the case.
Mr O’Toole was shot in the stomach in August 2011 in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, as part of a feud. In March 2008 he was jailed for four years for illegal possession of a shotgun. He claimed when caught by gardaí he was holding the gun at the behest of a person he was in fear of and that he was about to dispose of it when it was seized and he was arrested.
Last seen
He was last seen outside a house he was sharing with friends at Meadow’s Lane, Arklow, on Monday, January 7th, at about 5pm. He drove his metallic blue BMW three series car northwards towards his family home in Bray and spoke by phone to his partner, the mother of his seven-month-old son, shortly before 7pm.
However, Mr O’Toole never arrived at his family home at Thornhill Road in Bray and gardaí were notified of his disappearance on Tuesday, January 8th. A Garda “sweep” of the town identified the BMW parked on Dargle Road.
Supt David Taylor said anyone with information should contact the gardaí at Bray on 01-666 53 00, the Garda confidential line on 1800-666111, or any Garda station.
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