Search for missing Englishman called off

Gardaí in the midlands have tonight called off the search for an Englishman missing since April and now feared to be dead.

Tommy Thompson, 59, originally from the north of England, worked as a plasterer in Portlaoise, Co Laois, before his disappearance on April 21.

Searches around a road between Stradbally and Portlaoise were suspended tonight after gardaí failed to find any trace of Mr Thompson, though the hunt is to continue tomorrow.

Two men appeared in court yesterday charged with theft from the address of the missing Yorkshire man.

They are due to appear again in Portlaoise district court in January.