CONCERN WAS growing last night for the safety of a 25-year-old man missing for a week in Cork. Gardaí in the city admitted that they could not rule out the possibility that he may have been the victim of foul play.
Gardaí said they were still treating the disappearance of John McManus as a missing person's case but privately officers were growing increasingly concerned after a search of his flat on Wellington Road on the city's north side revealed it may have been the scene of an assault.
Mr McManus is a native of Fermoy, north Co Cork, and his family became concerned when they had not heard from him, so gardaí called to his flat at 6.30pm on Tuesday.
According to one Garda source, officers found blood in the flat, together with signs of more blood having been cleaned up. Gardaí requested the services of a forensic scientist from the forensic science laboratory in Dublin to examine the flat.
The flat was cordoned off overnight, and Garda technical experts carried out a forensic examination yesterday afternoon. The forensic scientist also examined the scene.
Gardaí also began door-to-door inquiries in the Wellington Road area.
They have also begun examining CCTV footage from a number of shops and businesses in the area.
Described as being 5ft 8in with a slim build and short brown hair, Mr McManus was wearing a black tracksuit bottoms, white runners and a light blue hoody, and was unshaven when last seen in Mayfield on October 30th.
Anyone with information should contact gardaí in Cork city on 021-4558260 or any Garda station.