Most missing children never found

THE vast majority of asylum seeking children who go missing from State care after arriving in Ireland without family are never found, the health authorities have admitted.

Less than one third of the 46 unaccompanied under 18s who disappeared from hostels and other types of accommodation up to the end of October this year have been located.

Just 12 of the 68 who went missing in 2004 turned up, and the whereabouts were established of only “a small number” of the total of 283 who disappeared over the past five years.