Garda search continues for missing Dublin men

Its almost a week since gardai in Cavan first began searching the whereabouts of two Dublin men, Eoin O'Connor (32) and Anthony Keegan (33) who, after seven-days, still remain missing following reports they visited the county last week.

The men were last seen on Tuesday night in the Kilbarron Avenue area of Coolock. From there, it is understood they travelled to Cavan to collect a €15,000 drugs’ debt owed by a man from Finglas who moved to Cavan some years back.

Over the weekend and into this week, local gardaí, supported by the Garda Air Support Unit, equipped with daylight and thermal image cameras, as well as canine units conducted searches on lands in Ballyjamesduff, Mount Nugent, around Lough Sheelin as well as Ross and Kilnaleck.

Those searches have been continuing this week, with gardai removing a number of items from a house near Tonagh and a boat was also taken from a mooring spot for further forensic examination.

A garda helicopter had earlier searched a forested area overlooking the Farren Connell Estate near Mount Nugent, while gardaí have also conducted searches on bogland near Clontyduffy.

The discovery of the car the men travelled in at a car park overlooking Lough Owel last Friday, April 25 led had also led to a significant search of the area, including the diving unit, although nothing was recovered.

Forensic examinations of the car, along with a mobile phone and a bank card found inside found no suggestion a struggle had taken place there, with no traces of blood found either.

The car, it has now been established, was parked at the Lough Owel scenic spot just off the N4 from 8.30am on the previous Wednesday, April 23.

Gardai thus far have been able to trace the movements of both men from the time they were last seen in Dublin on Tuesday evening, April 22, to the journey they took to Cavan via the M3 and through both tolls junctions at Dunboyne and Kells.

It is after the men travel through both tolls that gardaí are attempting to piece together their movements.

There remains serious concern for both Mr O'Connor and Mr Keegan's safety, though officers say the case at this stage is very much “open” until either the men, or their bodies are discovered.

Central to garda investigations is an anonymous phone call made to Monaghan garda station claiming the bodies of the missing men are dumped in a field near Ballyjamesduff.

The 999 caller specifically identified Mr O'Connor as one of the men, and Mr O'Connor's family have told gardaí the father-of-two had appeared concerned for his own safety prior to travelling to Cavan.

The families of the two men say it is completely out of character for either of the two men to go missing and not contact them or their loved ones.

Mr O'Connor is described as being 6ft tall and of stocky build with short brown hair and blue eyes. He last seen wearing a grey track suit bottoms and a blue wind-breaker type jacket with a hood.

Mr Keegan is 5ft 10in and of medium build with short brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Ballymun garda station on 01 666 4400, the garda confidential telephone line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

 

See this week's newspaper for full report