Gardai issue plea in search for missing Dublin woman

Gardai are seeking assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a Dublin mother who went missing three days ago.

Gardai are seeking assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a Dublin mother who went missing three days ago.

Ms Lilian McGowan (44), from Park Vale, Baldoyle, was last seen on Tuesday afternoon in the vicinity of Harbour Road in Howth.

Ms McGowan was the partner of Mr Michael Burke, who drowned along with their nine year-old daughter, Miriam, in Howth harbour last year after their car went off the east pier.

The inquest in the case took place two weeks ago.

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Gardai said yesterday they were extremely concerned for the safety of Ms McGowan, who has two other children, aged 16 and 20. Searches with the Garda helicopter were conducted on Wednesday in the Howth Head area.

Ms McGowan is 5 feet 7 inches, with blue eyes, blond, wavy hair and a tanned complexion. When last seen she was wearing blue jeans, white trainers and a light blue fleece. She was also said to be carrying a black shoulder-bag and a carrier bag with the label Vero Moda.

Gardai in Howth are co-ordinating the search under the direction of Supt Nicky Conneely from Raheny Garda station.

Family members raised the alarm last Tuesday after Ms McGowan failed to keep a 3 p.m. appointment. She was understood to have taken a taxi from Fairview to Howth at about 1.30 p.m. and was last seen at about 4.40 p.m. at the DART station in Howth, where she was said to have purchased a city-bound ticket.

Mr Austin McGowan, one of the missing woman's brothers, last night appealed for anyone with information to contact the Garda. "The family and neighbours have been searching round and we're very worried. We'd urge anyone with the slightest bit of information to come forward," he said.

Howth Garda station can be contacted at 01-6664900.

Joe Humphreys

Joe Humphreys

Joe Humphreys is an Assistant News Editor at The Irish Times and writer of the Unthinkable philosophy column