Concern mounts for missing girl

THE mother of a missing Cork schoolgirl was taken to Cork University Hospital after collapsing at her home.

Mrs Kathleen O’Driscoll, suffering from exhaustion and stress, had been distraught since her 11-year-old daughter Catherine disappeared at the weekend.

Concern for the missing girl| is reaching heightened levels as searches in open countryside enter their fourth day this morning.

She has not been seen by her family since going to bed shortly before midnight on Friday. Gardaí believe from a reported sighting the girl might have tried to hitch a lift about three miles west of the halting site where she lives with her mother, stepfather and six siblings near Béal na Bláth, between Bandon and Macroom in Co Cork.

Supt Mick Finn, leading the hunt, disclosed last night the investigation team had received upwards of 70 reports of sightings, each of which was being followed up.

Some callers claimed they saw the young girl in Dunmanway, Skibbereen and Schull.

Gardaí are convinced someone may have given the girl a lift at Bengour West on Saturday afternoon. “We believe someone must have picked her up. A team of searchers will return and step up activity in woods close to that area,” said Supt Mick Finn said yesterday. “We searched vacant houses and fields near the road but nothing turned up to suggest she had been there.

“At this stage, one would have to be extremely concerned but we are still hopeful of finding her safe,” he said.

Civil defence teams, sniffer dogs and the garda helicopter were brought in over the weekend to help local gardaí and neighbours, who have been asked to check sheds and outhouses around the partly-wooded farming region of mid-Cork.

Supt Finn said local rumours that a young boy had also disappeared from the Dunmanway area about 15 miles from where Catherine lives are untrue.

Staff at Kilcolman National School, where Catherine is in fourth class, have told gardaí that she was in good form and participated in activities last Friday.

Mrs O’Driscoll has been distraught at the mysterious disappearance, which she said is completely uncharacteristic for her.

Catherine is around 4’11” tall, of thin build, with blue eyes and shoulder-length blond hair. She was wearing a brown hooded top, navy trousers and brown shoes when she was last seen.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at Macroom (026-20590), the Garda confidential line at 1800-666111 or any Garda station.