Appeal over missing man

The father of a missing man, whom he fears was murdered 15 years ago, has made a heartfelt plea for information about what happened to his son.

Aengus ‘Gussie’ Shanahan, a former Dell employee, went missing from Limerick City on Friday, February 11, 2000.

Bob Shanahan, his father, said all he and his family want is to give Gussie a Christian burial.

“We want some detail on where he is, not the usual stuff of where he might be,” Mr Shanahan said.

“We want something concrete. We have received calls but no one of them have resulted in anything.”

The father of three said he and his wife Nancy endure an annual “torture” of appealing for information about Gussie’s whereabouts.

Mr Shanahan, a retired bank manager, said he hopes this year someone will answer his family’s prayers and bring an end to their long nightmare.

“We have nothing to go on. There have been a number of phone calls but they have (all) been irrelevant. There is nothing concrete,” Mr Shanahan said.

“We are still appealing for people who know what happened — there’s a few people out there who obviously know. All I would say is that they don’t have to go to the gardaí, they can send the information to the media or leave it (in a letter) for a priest in a church.”

He added: “Basically what I’m saying to them is that I’m not interested in prosecuting anybody because I wouldn’t want to go through a trial because it would bring it all up again for the family.

“I’m in my 70s now and I want to bury him before I die.”

Gussie, who would have turned 35 last month, was last seen alive on CCTV leaving Coopers Bar, Joseph’s St, Limerick, and entering School House Lane.

Sergeant Gary Thompson, Roxboro Road Garda Station, said the disappearance remains “an open and active investigation”.

“We’re appealing to anyone who would have seen Gussie that night in Coopers Bar. Did anyone speak to him, or discuss his plans as to his intentions that night? Did he interact with anybody in the pub that night?”