Huge search for missing teacher (26)
Search and rescue volunteers comb the River Barrow for missing Seamus Flahive.
Wednesday March 10 2010
A MAJOR search operation, involving up to 200 volunteers, is under way in New Ross for a missing 26-year-old Gorey teacher.
Seamus Flahive, a native of Dingle, Co. Kerry was last seen on Tuesday, March 2, however his car was located in New Ross on Saturday morning by Gardai.
Following the discovery of the missing man's blue Limerick registered Nissan Almeria, Gardai mounted a search operation, with the assistance of the New Ross River Search and Rescue, the Civil Defence and the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter based in Waterford.
Over the weekend hundreds of volunteers, including fifty family and friends from Kerry, descended on New Ross, to carry out an extensive search of the River Barrow and its surrounding banks 'There is no evidence to say this individual entered the river. We are keeping an open mind,' said a spokesperson for New Ross Garda Station.
Seamus is described as being 6'1 (1.85 m) of medium build with brown eyes and brown hair with a slight beard. He was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, white zip-up top and white runners. He is also described as politely spoken, with a soft Kerry Accent.
Gardai are now appealing to local farmers on both sides of the River Barrow to help with the search by checking their land adjacent to the river.
They also want to trace the movements of Seamus and his car, registration plate 99 LK 4401, between Tuesday and Saturday, when it was found parked on the Quay.
