Missing person helpline appeal renewed

Volunteers from a support service for families of missing persons have renewed their appeal to the Minister for Justice to reinstate funding for the helpline.

Through a two-day 120-mile cycle in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly over the weekend, Missing in Ireland Support Services (Miss) also aimed to raise awareness about the subject.

"People have no idea about the numbers who are missing," said Dermot Browne of Miss. "Most people think there are about 15 to 20 people missing, but it's near 6,000."

He has submitted a business plan to Minister Michael McDowell for a helpline, which Miss believes would cost €200,000 to run.

"In England for their missing persons' helpline service, there are 50 people employed full-time and 80 volunteers. We had just one person and even that was taken from us."

Mr Browne said that proportionately, the service in Ireland would require two people. "In England they put people's pictures on the sides of lorries and on milk cartons. We're lucky to get some information on teletext and that doesn't take photos."

Asked if they had got a response to the business proposal, he said: "We got an acknowledgement. I guess that's better than the last time when we got no reply at all. I don't think the Minister believes there is any value on this, but if he comes down here and meets the families and sees the impact on them, he might think differently."

The family of Philip Cairns, the 13-year-old boy who went missing in Rathfarnham, Dublin, 20 years ago on October 23rd, travelled with the group.

"For any family in this situation, Missing in Ireland Support Services is trying to provide counselling and other services and an event like this will raise the profile. It is the politicians and people in influential situations who can do something," Sandra Cairns, Philip's sister, said yesterday.

Ms Cairns said that in 1986 when Philip went missing "we had a lot of support, because it was unusual then and Philip was so young. But there are many people who are going through that situation and don't have support maybe because the person was older, but they are still going through the same pain and anxiety."

Some 60 cyclists were involved in the 120-mile trip starting in Naas, Co Kildare, where it also ended after stops at Newbridge and Kildare town, Portarlington, Co Laois, and Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The group met families of people who have gone missing in the Kildare and midlands region. A small ceremony was held at each location.