Mother of missing schoolboy Philip Cairns dies 'suddenly but peacefully'

Philip Cairns remains one of the most high-profile missing persons cases in Ireland after the 13-year-old vanished on October 23, 1986. 

The mother of missing schoolboy Philip Cairns, who disappeared nearly 40 years ago, has died.

Philip Cairns remains one of the most high-profile missing persons cases in Ireland. The 13-year-old vanished on the afternoon of October 23, 1986. 

Philip left his new school, Coláiste Éanna, at 12.50pm and made the short journey to his home at Ballyroan Road, Rathfarnham in Dublin. Forty minutes later, he picked up his bag and left the family home to return to school. He was never seen again.

His mother, Alice, of Ballyroan in Dublin, and formerly of Castlecomer in Kilkenny, died “suddenly but peacefully” on Tuesday. She was pre-deceased by her husband Philip, and was the “cherished mother” of Mary, Sandra, Helen, Suzanne, Philip, and Eoin.

Ms Cairns is also survived by her six grandchildren, six siblings, extended family and friends.

In 2016, Ms Cairns told RTÉ radio that she had only started to accept in the last year or two, since her husband Philip died, that her son would not be coming back.

Alice Cairns, mother of missing school boy Philip. Picture: RIP.ie

She recalled that on the day her son went missing in 1986, she returned home to Rathfarnham at 6.30pm. 

“I went to his friends’ houses, they said he didn’t come home with them. 

“My husband was not too fussed at first. He thought he was just delayed. It wasn’t until later that he became worried.” 

She said she had clung to the hope that Philip would return for decades.

“It’s only in the last year or two that I have come to terms that he won’t be coming back,” she said. “It was all the time on my mind. For a long time, we didn’t talk about him. It was too painful. Life had to go on with five other children.

“I always hoped to hear from someone somewhere. My husband was always waiting and hoping, and gave up much quicker than I did. But he held out hope for years.

“Philip was quiet, he never gave any trouble. He had a good sense of humour, he played football. He was a normal little boy. He had made his confirmation just months before. 

A lot of people recognise him from that photograph. It’s on my phone. 

Ms Cairns said Philip was thrilled to have started in secondary school. She said he had been robbed of his future, and his family was robbed of him. She added that she tried not to think too much about the person who took him, as she could waste her life doing that.

“I just focus on Philip. I wonder what he’d be doing now,” she said. “It’s very hard to know how there can be a happy ending.” 

Alice Cairns and her other son, Eoin, at their home. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

In 2020, the Cairns family took part in an RTÉ Scannal documentary, where the eldest sister of Philip Cairns appealed for information to unlock the truth of what happened to her brother.

Mary Cairns said Philip was a kind and thoughtful child who got on with everyone.

"I would feel that he is dead, and I mean your life moves forward in some aspects...but then there is just this part of our life that has stood still.

"We would really like to be able to bring Philip home, give him a burial.” 

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

At the time of his disappearance, Philip was 5’2” in height, with short black hair. When last seen he was wearing his Coláiste Éanna school uniform — a grey jacket with black shoulder corners, grey school trousers, a grey shirt and a school pullover.

Six days after he went missing, his schoolbag was located in a lane near his school. Some of his books were missing from the bag.

Anyone with information on the case should contact Rathfarnham Garda station on 01 666 6500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.