FBI to train gardaí on missing persons

By Michael O’Farrell, Political Reporter GARDAÍ hunting for Ireland’s missing persons are to receive training by FBI specialists, it emerged last night.

Fianna Fáil deputy John McGuinness yesterday announced he had received confirmation from the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell that FBI agents would train gardaí in the latest available techniques and expertise.

It is hoped the move could result in a breakthrough in some of Ireland’s long-term disappearance cases, including that of Kildare woman Jo Jo Dullard, who has been missing since 1995, and American tourist Annie McCarrick, who went missing in 1993.

Gardaí are expected to meet shortly with representatives from the FBI’s International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) in New York to discuss arrangements training.

A spokeswoman for Mr McDowell said last night any further details were a matter for the gardaí. A garda spokesman said talks had been taking place with the FBI centre in New York for some time, while a new website for missing children which would include Irish missing children on an international database had already been provisionally agreed.

The FBI missing children’s website, which is part of the ICMEC, already includes details of children from 13 countries. Mr McGuinness said the development was hugely important.

“This is a hugely significant move forward as the centre offers expert training in tracing missing people using cutting-edge technology with police forces all over the world and I am pleased that Ireland will finally be part of this,” he said.

Mr McGuinness said he had recently returned from a fact-finding trip to the New York centre where he had witnessed first hand the facilities and training which would now be available to gardaí free of charge. The missing person’s bureau of the New York Police Department has already been involved with several six-week exchange programmes with gardaí.

However, these exchanges are likely to be increased to facilitate the exchange of information, Mr McGuinness said. He also said that he and the families of those who have gone missing in Ireland had been calling on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the gardaí and the Minister for Justice, to intensify all efforts to find Ireland’s missing people.

“At a recent meeting with the Taoiseach families of the missing raised the idea of holding a national day of remembrance in honour of their loved ones.

“We will continue to seek this and we are also calling on the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy to consider setting up a missing persons bureau to centralise garda efforts,” he said.