Special prayer service for Irish businessman missing in Paris

MORE than 1,000 people attended a special prayer service in Listowel, Co Kerry, for a missing local businessman, John Kennelly, 47, who has not been seen for more than three weeks.

St Mary’s Church in Listowel was packed to capacity for the two-hour, candle-lit service conducted by Fr Donal O’Connor, on Monday night.

Mr Kennelly, a well-known travel agent, has been missing in Paris since Sunday, September 9, and an extensive search has been carried out with the aid of the French police and the Irish embassy in the city.

CCTV cameras filmed him leaving the Méridien Étoile Hotel, Porte Maillot, near the James Joyce pub, at 7am that morning.

He had told his family that he intended taking a walk around the city and would be back in time to leave for the airport.

Fr O’Connor said the huge turnout at the prayer service showed the concern and the support of the community in Listowel for the Kennelly family.

He said it was a difficult time for Mr Kennelly’s wife, Marie, and three children Claire, Eliza and Eoin, whose ages range from eight years to 21, but said they were heartened by the support they had received.

“The big thing for the family now is that they want closure, whatever the outcome may be. At the service, we prayed for the grace to accept that outcome and asked God to bring some good out of all that has been going on,” said Fr O’Connor.

A book of solidarity and support opened at the moving prayer service was signed by more than 1,200 people.

Marie Kennelly has spent much of the past three weeks in Paris searching for her husband, along with other family members and friends including Kerry North FG TD Jimmy Deenihan.

Ms Kennelly, John, and two of their children had spent the weekend together in Paris prior to his disappearance.

They had been attending a trade fair and were due to fly back to Cork that afternoon.

When he left the hotel that Sunday morning, Mr Kennelly carried a small rucksack with several books and his passport.

He takes daily medication for high blood pressure and it is believed that a possible side effect of this medication is temporary memory loss.

It is understood he did not take his tablets with him when leaving the hotel.

Friends of Mr Kennelly are baffled by his disappearance. Damien Stack, a life-long friend who spent three days in Paris searching for him, said they were praying for a happy ending.

Hospitals and morgues are among the places in Paris being checked during the search.

lAnybody with information is asked to contact the Paris police, the Irish embassy or to telephone [phone].