Missing schoolboy may have travelled to Republic

THE search for an Irish schoolboy missing from care in Britain has been extended to the Republic on the belief that he may have travelled here to try to track down relatives.

John Mangan, 12, went missing from Leicester City in the British midlands last June, sparking a police hunt, but as he had disappeared before, his family and carers clung to the hope he would return to them in his own time.

After four months without any contact or sightings, however, there is major concern for his safety and welfare, especially as police now believe that he is in Ireland and travelling on his own.

Notices with photographs of the youngster are being issued to ports and other transport centres here in the hope that he might have been spotted passing through.

An appeal is being made to members of the public to keep an eye out for him.

John, who is part of a Traveller family living in Britain, was in local authority care with Leicester City Council social services and, while he had wandered previously, had always let his social worker know he was safe.

The National Missing Persons Helpline in Britain which is spearheading the public appeal, described him as 5’3’’, of medium build with short blond hair, a pale complexion and blue eyes.

When last seen in Leicester on Sunday, June 15, he was wearing a bright green t-shirt with a white collar, a dark hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms, green socks and black shoes.

Social services staff in Leicester added that he spoke with a soft Irish accent and may be noticeable because of his distinct mannerism of blinking excessively while talking.

They said he could appear to the outsider as a sad and sullen child, but would engage well with adults on a one-to-one basis.

Sophie Woodforde, a spokesperson for the Missing Persons Helpline, urged John or anyone who encountered him to get in touch in complete confidence on one of their freephone numbers.

Anyone in Ireland who has seen John, or has information of his whereabouts, is asked to call the Helpline’s freephone on 00800 7000 7001, Leicester social services on 00 44 116 244 0110 (24 hours) or Leicestershire police on 00 44 116 222 2222 ex. 5617.