Sad end to search for Catherine

THE search for a missing 27-year-old dentist came to a sad end yesterday.

The body of Catherine Kelleher was discovered during a search of the River Lee and adjoining lands on the western outskirts of Cork city.

The search had been continuing for the past week.

Ms Kelleher, who was originally from Ballincollig but who worked in London for the past few years, was reported missing last Thursday.

She had come home on holiday to visit her family.

The alarm was raised when a number of her possessions were discovered on the banks of the River Lee near Ballincollig.

Navy divers, divers from the Blackwater Rescue Service, Civil Defence members, volunteers and friends of the Kelleher family carried out searches yesterday around Ballincollig Regional Park and between the Kingsley Hotel and Tivoli.

Superintendent Con Cadogan, who was leading the investigation, said Ms Kelleher’s remains were found shortly after 5pm near the GAA pitch in Ballincollig. He said foul play had been ruled out.

Ms Kelleher’s body was taken to the morgue at Cork University Hospital, where a postmortem will be conducted today by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.

“This is a terrible tragedy for the Kelleher family but, hopefully, they will take some comfort from the fact her body was discovered,” Supt Cadogan said. He extended the sympathy of the gardaí to the family.