Call for a specialist unit to investigate

MARY PHELAN, the sister of one of the six missing women, has called for the establishment of a specialised missing persons investigation unit.

Ms Phelan, whose sister Jo Jo Dullard disappeared in 1995, has travelled to the United States and Britain as part of her campaign for a dedicated unit.

Some 3,000 people go missing here every year. At the end of 2003, the number who remained untraced was 76, similar to the previous year. A large number of those who have gone missing in recent years are non-nationals.

There is a missing persons bureau within the gardaí but its members do not actively investigate when a person goes missing. It deals more with administration and liaison with other police forces. The unit also manages the website for missing children, set up a year ago.

It is argued the current system - where a local Superintendent leads a missing person investigation and can call on specialised units if needed - remains the best way to deal with a missing persons investigation.

This is disputed by relatives of some who go missing.

Mrs Phelan argues a specialised rapid reaction team, with expertise in the investigation of missing persons, should be established.

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness has backed her campaign. He claims garda procedures for investigating missing people still fall well behind other countries.

On a visit to the United States, met with the FBI, which has dedicated teams charged with investigating missing persons cases.

Progress has been made with the establishment of the missing children website. Gardaí now also have the technology to age-enhance photographs.