Garda underwater unit joins search for missing man

The underwater unit of an Garda Siochana has arrived in Co Donegal to join the search for a Letterkenny man who has been missing for almost six days.

The father of seven, 44-year-old Patrick Stokes last had contact with his family on Sunday evening and despite an extensive search has not been seen since.

Gardai have said it is totally out of character for Mr Stokes to go missing for this length of time and are growing increasingly concerned for his safety. His wife raised the alarm on Sunday night when he failed to return to his home in Meadowbank and she has made a personal appeal for information on local radio.

So far, the search has been concentrated on the River Swilly, which runs under the Port Bridge, the location where Mr Stokes was last seen.

Patrick Stokes is of stocky build, five feet six inches in height with greying black hair. When last seen, he was wearing a black jacket, grey trousers and a grey and wine coloured jumper. Gardai are appealing for information.