Fears grow for elderly woman missing in Italy

FEARS for the wellbeing of an elderly Limerick widow increased last night at an Italian lake resort where she has been missing since last Friday.

Retired physiotherapist Máiréad Geary, 82, was visiting Lake Maggiore in the Piedmont region with members of an active retirement group when she was last seen last Friday afternoon. Ms Geary had worked in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital and Croom orthopaedic hospital before her retirement.

The alarm was raised after she failed to return to a hotel in the town of Stresa last Friday. Her two sons travelled from Limerick to help the operation.

She had told friends she intended to take a cable car ride on Mottarone mountain, but it is not clear if she did get to the cable car.

Mountain rescue teams commenced an immediate search using sniffer dogs.

Tour operator Sean Ferry said the alarm was raised at 7pm on Friday when Ms Geary did not come back to the hotel where an Irish group of 40 were staying.

“We do not know if she took the cable car and went up the mountain. She is a member of a walking club and fit. We don’t understand what could have happened to her. Pictures of Mrs Geary have been circulated to the media and local TV.”

Prayers for her safe return were offered up at Mass in St Joseph’s parish church.

Ms Geary, who lives with one of her sons at South Circular Road, was described as a very active person who enjoyed walking and assisting local charities.

Paul O’Connor of Limerick Walking Club said: “Máiréad is a very active member and mentally very much on the ball, a brilliant woman altogether. She was on a recent trip to Lourdes. This is very difficult to comprehend. We are still hoping the word will be good. Even when we hold walks, Máiréad is always there to offer other members a lift in her car to the venue.”

Cllr Maria Byrne said they whole community was very concerned.

“We are all hoping and praying she will found alive and well. Mrs Geary is a lovely lady and very involved in the active retirement group. It is a sad situation and very upsetting for the family and all her many friends.”