Gardaí seek two men in hunt for missing boy

Sean O’Riordan

Superintendent Liam Hayes said a man who “looked too well-dressed” to be in a field of stubble was sighted twice on Tuesday, January 4, the day the boy was last seen after leaving his home in Midleton.

“The man was walking in a field of stubble at Egan’s field and just looked out of place because he was too well-dressed. He was seen at around 1.50pm and again at 2.40pm,” Supt Hayes said.

The field is a short distance from Robert’s home at Ballyedmond and close to Water Rock Golf Club.

Gardaí also want to speak to a man who was seen at the entrance to Curragh Wood.

“This man was driving a small red van, possibly a (Ford) Fiesta. He was seen at around 5pm at the car park at the entrance,” Supt Hayes said.

Three men who were playing at East Cork Golf Club the same afternoon have yet to come forward. Two of them paid green fees, but the third left without paying.

Gardaí renewed their help shortly after a re-enactment was filmed of Robert’s last known movements.

A lookalike volunteered to trace Robert’s movements. He wore identical clothing and rode the same type of BMX bicycle, which Robert got as a Christmas present.

The missing schoolboy left his house at approximately 2.15pm. He had told his parents he was going off for a bike ride and called to some neighbouring houses. He spoke to one neighbour

before riding off again. At 2.36pm he made a call on his Nokia 3200 phone to a young girl who lives locally.

The phone was then cut off. It hasn’t been switched on since. The bicycle, meanwhile, was discovered propped up against a ditch at 4.45pm, half a mile from his home.

Gardaí gave a briefing yesterday to Assistant Commissioners Dermot Jennings and Tony Hickey at Midleton Garda Station.

More than 300 volunteers joined 110 troops and 100 gardaí as they combed various locations, which included concentrating heavily on the area where the bicycle was discovered.

Today’s search is expected to concentrate around the nearby village of Carrigtwohill.

Supt Hayes said that a number of slurry tanks in that area might have to be drained.

“We will solve this, but it’s going to take time,” he added.