Father’s anguish over missing Aisling

THE utter wretchedness of an Irish father was plain to see as he told a press conference he and his family were “barely existing” as they awaited news on their two-year-old daughter who is missing from her New Zealand home for nearly five days.

Aisling Symes was with her parents, Waterford-born Allan Symes and his New Zealand wife, Angela, at her grandparents’ vacant home in Henderson, West Auckland, when she disappeared at about 5.30pm. After a thorough search of the area, it’s now feared she was abducted. It was initially thought that Aisling might have wandered off and slipped into a nearby stream.

Mr Symes described the days since her disappearance as “the most harrowing of our lives”.

“No sleep, it’s been like we’re barely existing, just surviving every moment not knowing where Aisling is. Is she near us? Is she being treated well? Things like... has her nappy been changed?” he stammered.

“Thoughts churn through us as we huddle close as a family and we try to wait to find out if there’s anything,” said a distraught Mr Symes.

About 40 police are involved in the inquiry and have been tracking down known offenders and knocking on doors and as they hunt for whoever may have abducted Aisling.

Angela Symes was said to be too distraught to speak at the briefing. She sobbed quietly throughout the press conference and Mr Symes kept his arm around tightly around her at all times.

Inspector Gary Davey, who is heading up the search, spoke directly to the person or persons who may have her: “To whoever may have Aisling out there, the sole focus of the police at the moment is to have Aisling returned safely... We hope that you come forward and leave her in a safe place so that she can be found.”

Mr Davey told Radio New Zealand it is critical police find an Asian woman seen with Aisling about the time she went missing, whether or not she is involved in the disappearance. However, he cautioned people not to take the law into their own hands.

The woman police are seeking is thought to be about 35 years old, with dark shoulder-length hair. She was walking a black and grey dog at the time witnesses say they saw her.

Mr Davey said a woman who fitted the description was targeted by a group of people on Wednesday and has been left traumatised by their actions. He said people should contact police rather than make approaches themselves.