A familiar landscape is tainted forever

THERE was a poignant symbolism in the signpost closest to the spot where the body of 11-year-old Robert Holohan was found.

Bearing the names of townlands familiar to his family, it also advertised those places forever tainted by association with the search for their missing son.

Bustling Midleton, sleepy Whitegate, sunny Guileen and nearby Inch strand shaken to the core, fearful for their children, an age of innocence now past.

It marked more than a parting of the ways. It symbolised a parting of lives a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a son. In subconscious recognition of that, two bouquets leaned at its foot, a makeshift headstone in memory of the boy everyone hoped was alive. Close by, two candles had burned into the early hours.

To the right, a garda cordon kept all but the experts at bay. Around the bend, and just out of view, ladders and scaffolding were in place to assist in the forensic examination of the spot where the young body was found. Deep in the undergrowth, not far from the road, it lay at the foot of a steep incline.

Garda forensic experts had made tentative attempts the previous night to uncover as much as they could, but as darkness fell they had to defer their efforts. Back at work by 8.30am yesterday, they laboured painstakingly before giving the State Pathologist the all-clear.

At 12.30pm, the cordon lifted as Dr Marie Cassidy whisked by, and later, it was raised again, to open the way for the hearse. It left in the early afternoon, in Dr Cassidy's wake, carrying a simple brown coffin.

Then to Cork University Hospital, for a full post mortem.

On the other side of Midleton, Maurice Moloney, owner of the East Cork Golf Club, kept a watchful eye on his children as they cycled about the yard. "I'm terrified for them," he said, "after what happened to Robert," nodding his head in the direction of the traumatised Holohan home.

On the outskirts of town, soldiers in fatigues continued to focus on their search. A body had been found but more was being sought and gardaí were on full alert.

The townsfolk were muted in mourning and prayed for the Holohan family at morning Mass. By evening, a mobile phone belonging to the dead boy had been found and the rumour mill continued to turn. It was in his pocket some said; had it led the gardaí to him, others asked, and if so, why had it taken until now?

Later a garda press conference confirmed it had been found with the body of the boy.

Many questions, not as many answers, and no reason at all for the death of a brother and son.