Gardaí issue appeals for runaway teens

Linda Duff is Ireland’s most prolific runaway teen.

A fresh appeal was issued yesterday for the 14-year-old after she once again went missing from her home in north Dublin.

The troubled teen has run away from home approximately a dozen times in the past year.

It is understood the gardaí at Swords have appointed a member especially to deal with the young girl’s disappearances.

Each time Linda has run away, a fresh appeal has been issued through the local gardaí. She lives in the Portrane area of north Dublin but has a troubled background. Her mother is deceased.

She was last seen on April 7, making her most recent disappearance one of the longest.

The 5’5” blonde-haired, blue-eyed teenager of stocky build was last seen in Donabate.

At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a blue Manchester United top, navy Nike tracksuit bottoms and white Nike runners.

Over the past year, she has gone missing on numerous occasions, ranging from a few days to weeks.

Public appeals for her safe return home were made in February, twice in January, last December, November, September and August.

She has usually turned up in the north Dublin area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at Swords on 01-6664700 or any Garda station.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated case, the gardaí have issued an appeal for information about the whereabouts of a second teenager.

Gardaí in Ballyfermot are seeking Paula Melia, aged 14, who has been missing since Sunday morning.

Paula is 5’8”, of thin build with blonde hair, dyed partly red. She was wearing blue jeans and a pink shirt when last seen. She may be in the O’Connell Street area of Dublin.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at Ballyfermot on 01-6667200 or any Garda station.