Man feared abducted by IRA
Police on both sides of the border were tonight involved in a major search for a missing man feared to have been abducted by the IRA nearly two weeks ago.
They issued a poster of Gareth O’Connor, 24, and his car which is also missing, and made a fresh appeal for information.
The father of two is facing charges of membership of the dissident Real IRA south of the border and a condition of his bail was that he travelled daily across the border from his home in Armagh city to report to police in Dundalk.
On the morning of Sunday May 11 Mr O’Connor left his home to drive to Dundalk and never arrived.
His father immediately claimed the IRA had abducted him and despite an official denial by the republicans, maintains the belief.
Despite searches and appeals nothing of Mr O’Connor or his car have been seen.
Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Bob Moore said today: “Naturally we are concerned as each day passes and we are taking this matter very seriously.”
He said police had been able to establish that Mr O’Connor passed through the village of Newtownhamilton on his journey to the border but do not know what happened next.
Officers from the PSNI visited every house along the route from the village to the border today and searched fields and woodland along the route. Nothing was found.
Gardai across the border carried out similar searches on the final part of the route to Dundalk.
Supt Moore said: “The focus of our enquiry at the minute is on what happened between Newtownhamilton and Dundalk and we are convinced that the public can help us with this.”
He said it would be a “significant step forward” towards finding the missing man if police could locate his car.
He said it was a metallic blue VW Golf – registration TIB 4852 – with distinctive changes including customised wing mirrors, two spotlights mounted on the front grill and damage to the front valance.
Supt Moore said police had a primary function to ensure Mr O’Connor’s safety. “We will do all that we can in our power to ensure that, but we are appealing and seeking public assistance.
“If anyone has seen the vehicle or seen Gareth – we would ask that they contact us.”
Just days before Mr O’Connor vanished police went to his home to warn him to review his personal security because of a potential threat to his safety.
While the IRA have denied knowing anything about his disappearance, his family believe the IRA snatched him because of his alleged links to the dissident Real IRA – links which they deny.
