GARDAI in Co Limerick have issued a description of a schoolgirl whose parents believe she may have eloped with a 24 year old member of a travelling family with whom she is said to have become friendly.
Ms Kathleen Wallace (16) has been missing from her parents' home at Knockainey since July 10th, about the same time as a member of a family who had been camping nearby for three weeks also disappeared.
She is described by school friends as a "lovely, quiet and friendly girl". She is said to have confided in her married sister, Mrs Noreen Fitzgerald, that she had become "fond" of the 24 year old man. Mrs Fitzgerald said that three days before she left home, Kathleen admitted "she was mad about him" but mentioned nothing about leaving home.
Mrs Nora Wallace, her mother, said the only contact with her daughter since she left home was a short message on the telephone answering machine of a neighbour for whom she had worked in her spare time. The message merely said "Hi! This is Kathleen."
Her mother added. "We don't know whether she is in good form or not, but we feel she is some where in the neighbourhood and we would wish that she would contact us and let us know that she is well."
Kathleen is described as being 5 ft 9 ins tall, of slim build and looking older than her 16 years. She has black shoulder length hair which could be tied up or plaited. She was wearing black jeans and jumper and black Wrangler boots.
The travelling family, whose name was not released by the gardai, have moved on to Knocklong, about 10 miles away. Mrs Wallace has asked them to contact her if they hear anything.