Man arrested in connection with disappearance of pregnant woman

Gardaí in Portlaoise have this afternoon arrested a male in his mid 20s in connection with the disappearance of missing pregnant woman Aoife Phelan.

The man is currently detained in Portlaoise Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Aoife, 30, a native of Cashel, Ballyroan, Portlaoise, met a friend at the Borris Road Roundabout in Portlaoise at about 6.30pm on October 25 and was last seen at 8.10pm when she left a friend's house at Colliers View, Portlaoise.

She was employed as a live in au pair at The Hermitage, Portlaoise and was in work until 6.15 p.m. on that evening.

She is described as being approximately 5’7’’ in height, slim build, has long blonde/sandy-coloured hair and blue eyes. When last seen she was wearing stone washed/light coloured jeans and a knitted jumper.

She was also wearing a red sleeveless jacket with a fur trimmed hood and black boots. She may have been wearing a silver necklace and a watch with a black strap.