Volunteers join up to help the missing

Two volunteer groups have joined forces to help ease the anguish of families of the thousands of people reported missing in Ireland every year.

Irish Search Dogs has confirmed it to become an official partner of the Missing Persons Helpline.

Irish Search Dogs has also unveiled RTÉ presenter Kathryn Thomas as its official ambassador.

Irish Search Dogs carries out searches nationwide once its members are contacted by the emergency services.

The Missing Persons Helpline provides a support service for family of missing persons. It is not an investigative agency and it does not perform searches.

Following the partnership, both voluntary groups will be able to expand the scope of their remit in trying to find the 6,000 people who are reported missing in Ireland every year — that’s about 16 every day — by providing a direct link between the helpline and the search services.

“Time is of the essence in circumstances like this,” said Dermot Browne, the chair of the charity which operates the Missing Persons Helpline.

“It’s not something that families can prepare for and, when it does happen, people often don’t know where to turn to for help.

“We hope that, following this partnership, and with the various resources we the groups have, we can offer guidance and streamline the response.”

However, he urged people to contact gardaí first in the event someone goes missing. The gardaí will conduct a risk assessment before deciding on the response.

Both volunteer groups have close links with the gardaí who ultimately decide on when and how information relating to a missing person is publicised.

Irish Search Dogs chairman Glen Barton said that while the organisations had similar goals, each held a different part of the puzzle.

“Creating a formal partnership will help us to provide a better service and hopefully help reunite missing loved ones with their families,” he said.

Irish Search Dogs is staffed by volunteers who use bloodhounds for trailing and sheepdogs for air-scenting missing persons.

Missing in Ireland Support Services operates the Missing Persons Helpline, as well as providing a support service to families and friends of those who have gone missing through its dedicated helpline 1890 442 552.

*www.irishsearchdogs.ie, www.missingpersons.ie