asked the Minister for Justice the number of (a) men and (b) women reported missing in the State at the present time; and what action is being taken by his Department to trace them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Missing Persons.
37.
Police records are available from 1st November 1948 onwards and in that time the Garda have investigated the disappearance of 61 males and 18 females who have not been traced to date.
These figures are totals and include various categories of persons who may be described loosely as missing. Some of the persons in question were almost certainly drowned, though their bodies were not recovered. Some had their permanent address outside the State and are listed as missing here because they were last heard of while in this country on a visit.
The Garda investigate the disappearance of a person reported to them as missing only where there is some reason to suspect that the person has died, or where foul play is suspected, or where the person is young or for some other reason may be unable to look after himself or where the person may have committed an offence by leaving home, as, for instance, where there may be an offence of child neglect.
The enquiries depend on the circumstances of each case. Normally, particulars of a missing person are circulated throughout the Force, and to other police forces if that course seems necessary and, with the consent of the nearest relative, a description may be supplied for publication in the newspapers and on radio and television.
Is the Minister aware that at least six parents turned up in Cork recently in an attempt to identify the girl who had been found murdered there?
I am glad the course of the investigation of that matter proved successful.
There were six parents, so there are at least that many missing in Cork city alone.
The Deputy will appreciate that is part of the investigation.
The person who has been charged has not been proved guilty. Therefore, the Minister should not describe the operation as successful.
I was referring to the investigation.
There are six others who have not been found yet.
Mr. O'Malley
There is a Fine Gael man missing from Longford-Westmeath.
As a result of the operations of the mental hospital in Mullingar.