MORE THAN 40 gardaí combed an area of west Cork yesterday amid mounting concern about the disappearance of 60-year-old Anne Corcoran, who has been missing in suspicious circumstances from her home in Kilbrittain for nearly a fortnight.
Locals and gardaí in Kilbrittain have become increasingly concerned for the welfare of Mrs Corcoran, who has lived alone at her farmhouse at Maulnaskimlehane in the town since the death of her husband Jerry two years ago.
She has not been seen since January 16th. It is understood she called a friend on her mobile phone on the 19th but her phone has not been used since then.
Mrs Corcoran’s green Peugeot 206 was found on Wednesday in the Oldchapel area of Bandon, Co Cork. The car was being forensically examined in Dublin yesterday.
It is understood the area where the car was found would be “completely alien” to Mrs Corcoran and it would not have been normal for her to park there.
Meanwhile, gardaí were contacted on Thursday night by a member of the public who claimed to have seen Mrs Corcoran’s car near Bandon Bridge school towards the end of last week.
Searches were being conducted yesterday near Oldchapel and on land at Carey’s Cross in Kilbrittain near Mrs Corcoran’s farm.
Insp Brendan Fogarty, who is leading the Garda investigation into the disappearance, yesterday appealed to anyone who may have information on the case to come forward.
“Today we are concentrating on a wooded area. It would be known locally as Timoleague Road in Oldchapel. Our Garda search team are actively searching that area. My appeal today would be in relation to Anne’s car.
“Did anybody perhaps that visited Bandon Bridge school last week, either dropping off children or collecting children, would they have seen a car similar to this car parked close by?”
Insp Fogarty also appealed to the area’s farmers to check their lands and their outhouses.
He described as “fabulous” the public response and assistance in relation to the case. He said any information, however trivial, was welcome in relation to Mrs Corcoran’s possible whereabouts.
Insp Fogarty said Mrs Corcoran was a “very quiet lady” who was known and respected in the area.
The last positive sighting of the missing woman was on Friday, January 16th in a shop in Bandon. There have been a number of reported sightings of her since then which gardaí are currently trying to confirm.
It is understood they have certain information which has led them to conclude that the disappearance of Mrs Corcoran is more significant than a regular missing person’s case.
However, this information is not being disclosed for operational reasons.
Mrs Corcoran’s house at Maulnaskimlehane in Kilbrittain has been sealed off and is being searched. There was no sign of a break-in or a disturbance at the widow’s house and none of her personal items are missing.
Detectives have confirmed that Mrs Corcoran was not at home on January 22nd when a workman came to carry out some repair work at her farmhouse and found her two dogs locked in the house. She would normally leave them at a kennels facility if she was going away. She also generally informed friends of any upcoming plans.
Mrs Corcoran is described as being about 1.5m (5ft) in height, of slim build, weighing about 51kg (8st) with brown wavy hair and wearing slimline glasses.
Gardaí are appealing to anybody with any information regarding the missing woman’s whereabouts to contact them at Bandon Garda station on 023-52200.