River search continues for missing dentist

GARDAÍ and naval divers will continue the search today for missing 27-year-old dentist Catherine Kelleher.

She was last seen at around 7.30pm last Thursday and the alarm was raised when some of her possessions were found near the River Lee at Ballincollig, Co Cork.

Yesterday, naval divers carried out a search of the river between the Regional Park in Ballincollig and the Kingsley Hotel.

Gardaí, Civil Defence units, local volunteers and members of Ms Kelleher’s family also searched areas along the river bank.

Superintendent Con Cadogan, who is leading the investigation, said the search would continue as navy divers checked the river between the Kingsley Hotel and Tivoli.

Supt Cadogan said gardaí hadn’t ruled out the possibility that Ms Kelleher was still alive and had simply taken off somewhere.

Ms Kelleher had been working in Britain for the past few years and had returned home on holiday to visit her family.

As part of the investigation into her disappearance gardaí are also liaising with police in London where she worked as a dentist.

“If Catherine is out there and reads this article we would appeal to her to contact her family or us as soon as possible.

“Similarly, if anybody has seen her or knows of her whereabouts we would also appeal to them to get in touch,” said Supt Cadogan.

Anybody with information can contact Ballincollig Garda Station at 021 4871222.