Call for creation of missing persons unit

A special missing persons unit should be set up to trace the thousands of people who vanish each year, it was claimed today.

The task is currently undertaken by gardaí around the country and the information is recorded at Garda headquarters in Dublin.

Fianna Fáil TD Martin Brady said a dedicated unit should be established be manned by investigators would travel across the country for the terrible and unfortunate cases.

“We need to have a situation, where investigators involved in these cases are experts and can harness the knowledge gained from other national agencies so there is a swift a response as possible,” he said.

The call comes as a family in County Derry expressed fear about their missing 15 year-old- daughter, who is believed to be in County Cork.

Louise Sheils, 15, disappeared from her home in Garvagh, near Derry city last week after visiting internet chat rooms.

Mr Brady said that in many cases, the families of missing people received little counselling to cope with the emotional trauma involved.

“Many families feel they have nowhere they can go to for support and information, as in some cases communication falls between the cracks, between the Gardaí and the Department of Justice,” he said.

The Dublin North TD added that a missing persons register should be put in place with the consent of families to raise awareness.

According to the most recent Garda statisics, 3,987 people went missing in 2003 and of these, 76 remained untraced.

A National Missing Persons Helpline which was run by Victim Support for two and half years shut down last March after funding was withdrawn by the Department of Justice.