Searches yield no trace of missing woman

NO trace has been found of 78-year-old Maura Reynolds, missing from a Bray, Co Wicklow nursing home for a full week now.

Intensive searches have taken place involving garda, civil defence and coast guard personnel around the town and Bray Head as well as the nearby sea.

Ms Reynolds, who suffers from Alzheimer’s and severe dementia, has cancer of the spine and is unable to walk long distances.

She is described as 5’4” tall with white hair and a slight stoop. It is believed she was dressed in a purple suit at the time of her disappearance.

She was last seen by a staff member at the Tara Nursing Home late on Christmas night after spending the day with her family.

Late last week as the search was scaled back, and George Reynolds said he feared his mother had been missing for so long she was probably dead.

She was originally from Balally Drive, off Sandyford Road, in south Dublin. A search of her former home and surrounding area yielded nothing.

Gardaí believe it is unlikely the missing woman took a lift from the area in a car.

Nothing conclusive emerged after gardaí appealed to local residents returning to the Bray area after the holiday break to check their homes and outhouses.

Hundreds of calls had been received from members of the public following garda appeals. Many of the calls had come from people who believed they had seen the missing woman.

Meanwhile, gardaí at Athy in Co Kildare are seeking help in locating 63-year-old John Quinn. Mr Quinn has been missing from his home in Townspark, Athy since 3pm on December 30. He was last seen in the Townspark area, near the River Barrow, wearing a three-quarter length green suede coat, grey trousers and black shoes. He has grey receding hair, is of thin build and is around 5’10” tall.

Contact gardaí in Athy on [phone].