‘The biggest blow to mam was losing Aengus’

The bond between Nancy Shanahan and her youngest child, who went missing 16 years ago on a night-out in Limerick, was recalled yesterday at Nancy’s funeral.

Hundreds gathered at the city’s Holy Rosary Church, on Ennis Road, to pay their final respects to Nancy, mother of Aengus “Gussie” Shanahan, who was last seen alive after leaving a pub in the city centre on February 11, 2000.

Nancy and her husband, Bob, a retired bank manager, believed Gussie was murdered and buried. Their continued appeals resulted in informants coming forward. One, a former prisoner, cut off communication after passing on what had been considered compelling details.