Urgent action needed in search for missing Meath father - Costello

17 April 2015

by Cllr Joe Costello

Labour TD Joe Costello has called for a renewed focus on the search for Joe Whelan, a young man who disappeared on the 4^th of April, two weeks ago. He was travelling to Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan, by car and never returned to his home and family in Ashbourne, Co Meath.

He left his car parked beside the local rugby club. His jacket and one shoe were found close by.

This man has a young family of three children, and his wife is six months pregnant. However, there has been no intensive manhunt and the case has received limited media attention.

The family are angry that the Gardaí have not pulled out all the stops and brought their colleagues from surrounding districts to help with the search. The search is largely being carried out by family members and volunteers. There is a large lake in the vicinity yet the Garda scuba diving unit has not arrived to search it. Rather some volunteer scuba divers are helping the family.

The tragic case of Karen Buckley has highlighted again the devastating impact on families of missing persons.

I am calling on the Gardaí and the media to refocus on this particularly tragic case and to give priority to the search for Joe Whelan, so that his distraught family can find out what happened to him as quickly as possible.