Government urged to reopen missing persons helpline

The Government is being urged to re-establish the missing persons helpline.

It was set up by the Department of Justice on a trial basis, but funding was withdrawn in March of this year.

A charity cycle is being held today to highlight the plight of families of long term missing persons.

Dermot Browne from the Missing in Ireland Support Service says the helpline would help deal with the 4,000 missing persons reports received each year by the Gardaí.