1,200 volunteers comb countryside for missing boy
The story of the disappeared 11-year-old not only galvanised those living in his Co Cork hometown, but brought in scores of people from far away who responded to the Garda calls for help.
Several exhausted locals, a number of whom had searched throughout the previous night, had grabbed a few hours sleep before heading out again at first light.
By-roads around Midleton Golf Club, which is being used as search headquarters, were crammed with cars from 8am.
A platoon of 25 soldiers from the 1st Field Artillery Regiment in Collins Barracks used machetes to clear their way through heavily forested areas, while Garda Sub Aqua Unit members and Navy divers searched rivers and streams.
The Garda Dog Unit, search and rescue dogs from the Red Cross and a Coastguard Sikorsky helicopter were also deployed.
Defence Forces spokesman Commandant Dan Harvey said more troops had been put on standby and were ready to join the search if requested to do so by the gardaí.
Wednesday’s search focused on a four-square mile area adjacent to Robert’s home, which is nearly three miles north of Midleton. Yesterday, search teams fanned out in several directions, with some heading up as far as the village of Lisgoold, five miles north of Midleton.
Other groups combed as far west as the outskirts of Carrigtwohill and several checked along the former railway line between Waterrock and Roxborough junction.
Houses in the eastern and western suburbs of Midleton were also checked and appeals were made at morning Masses for people to search their own land.
Many volunteers came armed with their own sandwiches and flasks, but a number of local businesses donated thousands of euro worth of food and drink. From early morning these rations started arriving at the golf club where a team of hardworking staff handed them out.
Other volunteers did food runs to various search sites, so teams didn’t have to trudge their way back to the clubhouse.
Gardaí confirmed that had received dozens of calls throughout the previous night from all over the country from people offering to help.
Councillor Billy Buckley, deputy mayor of Mildeton, brought out eight council workers who volunteered to join the search. “The feeling is one of total shock. Hope is all we can have now. It’s great to see the mix of people out there, they’re from every walk of life,” he said.
Damien Murphy, a delivery man from Mallow, said he’d heard a plea for volunteers on the news. He didn’t know the Holohan family, but felt their concern and wanted to do his bit. “I’ve never been involved in a search before. I walked four or five miles this morning and met people from Carlow and Dublin,” he said. Shay Hurley, a teacher from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, felt that, being an experienced hillwalker, he could lend a hand.
“People are incredible the way they have responded. The family must be going through hell, but at least they could be somewhat heartened by the amount of people trying to help,” Mr Hurley said.
