Does anybody know where they are?

A mother whose daughter went missing seven years ago wants a dedicated garda unit to be established to lead investigations into disappeared people, writes John Breslin.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has ruled out establishing a dedicated garda unit to lead missing person investigations, despite pressure from relatives of those who have disappeared.

Mr McDowell said the present system where local gardaí are the lead investigators remains the most sensible response when someone goes missing.