Family of missing Dublin woman, 59, appeal for help in tracing her

The distraught family of a 59-year-old woman, who has been missing for over two weeks, has appealed for the public’s help after learning more about her last known movements.

Christina Lavin, who lives at Kilmainham Bank, Emmet Rd, Dublin 8, disappeared on the afternoon of Saturday, January 16.

Her family say she travelled by Dart to Bray on the day she disappeared, and was spotted near the sailing club on Bray harbour at about 5pm.

A native of Creevagh, near the village of Ballyfarnon on the Sligo/Roscommon border, Ms Lavin, one of seven children, has lived in Dublin for over 20 years.

Her mother, 97, is unaware that her daughter is missing.

The family say they are very concerned having discovered she left her handbag, phone, and purse in her apartment. No money has been withdrawn from her account since she disappeared.

It is now known that she boarded a train at Connolly station in Dublin city centre at 2.38pm that day. The last sighting of her was at about 5pm when she was picked up on CCTV in the vicinity of Bray Sailing Club.

“It would have been getting dark around that time — we are hoping that people who were out walking may remember something,” said her sister-in-law Louise Lavin.

The family say Christina is fragile which has compounded fears for her wellbeing.

The missing woman is 5ft6in in height, of thin build, with short, red, wavy hair, and green eyes.

When last seen, she was wearing a purple and pink- coloured woollen coat with white speckles, and black trousers.

The family has established Christina also travelled to Bray the day before she disappeared, and dropped into the Martello hotel there on that Friday.

“We know that with every passing day, the situation becomes more hopeless but we need to know what happened to Christina,” said Ms Lavin.

She praised the community in Emmet Rd who organised a search there and put up posters immediately after Christina disappeared.

Family members have also travelled to Bray trying to retrace her steps, but say they are now hoping the public can help them to find out what happened.

Gardaí have appealed to anyone who was in the Bray area from 3pm to 6pm that Saturday, who may have seen Christina, or can assist the investigation, to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí at Kilmainham Garda Station on 01 6669700, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any Garda station.