THERE WERE 7,753 missing person reports filed last year. The total number of people who are still missing is 28.

Of the total number missing person reports filed last year, 5,980 were high risk, 694 were medium risk and 1,079 were low risk.

The latest figures contained in the annual report from An Garda Síochána shows that the Dublin Metropolitan Region accounts for the highest number of missing persons yet to be found.

Whereabouts unknown

Out of 2,337 high risk missing person reports, 6 remain untraced, while out of 244 medium risk reports, three people remain untraced. A total of 402 reports were low risk, with nine of these cases yet to be traced.

Following Dublin, the Southern Region – including Cork City, Cork North, Cork West, Kerry and Limerick – accounts for 1,750 missing person reports last year. A total of three people remain missing.

The Eastern Region filed 1,105 missing person reports last year, with no cases going untraced.

The Northern Region filed 669 missing person cases, with just one case going untraced, while the South Eastern Region filed 741 missing person files, with four going untraced.

Finally, the Western region filed 505 missing person cases, two of which are untraced.

Missing

The gardaí said a missing person report can result from a wide variety of situations – being lost, a child running away from home, a domestic situation which drives a person away, in some cases suicide and sometimes homicide.

“A person who remains missing leaves behind loved ones and family where many questions are asked and unfortunately sometimes remain unanswered,” said the gardaí.

Thankfully, most people are located in a relatively short period of time, but unfortunately some remain missing. An Garda Síochána will not close a missing person investigation until the person is found.

The gardaí said the the Missing Persons Bureau continue to invest in and develop policies, practices and procedures to ensure that the “standard is in keeping with best
international practice which will result in reaching an even more successful conclusion in missing person investigations”.

Also in the annual report:

• Gardaí seized €32 million worth of drugs in 12 months >
• Air pistols and shotguns were the most seized firearms last year >
• Martin who? Callinan isn’t mentioned in opening of annual garda report >
• More than 1,100 public complaints filed against gardaí last year>

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