The family of missing Co Wicklow man Philip O’Toole have used the occasion of his 33rd birthday today to make an emotional appeal for information concerning his disappearance.
Mr O’Toole was last seen outside a house he was sharing at Meadow’s Lane, Arklow, on Monday January 7th at about 5pm. He drove his metallic blue BMW 3 series northwards on the N11 towards his family home in Bray, and spoke by phone to his partner, the mother of his seven-month-old son, shortly before 7pm.
However, Mr O’Toole never arrived at his family home at Thornhill Road in Bray. Gardai were notified of his disappearance the following day.
A Garda “sweep” of the town identified the BMW parked on the Lower Dargle Road, about 250 metres from Bray’s Royal Hotel. The car's passenger window was open and papers from the glove box had been strewn about.
However, gardaí said at a briefing in Bray Garda station this morning this did not amount to signs of a struggle and they have appealed for anyone who may have seen the car parked there overnight to come forward. The area was beside road works connected with the Dargle flood protection measures.
Gardaí described the missing man as being about 170cms in height, (fivefeet seven inches), about 70 kilos (11 stone) in weight, and being of average build with short brown hair.
Speaking in Bray Garda station this morning, the missing man's father Brendan O’Toole made an emotional appeal for anyone with information to contact gardaí. He said his son's mother was very worried and none of the family had been able to eat or sleep. "We just don’t know what to do," he said.
He said he had spoken to his son on the previous Friday and he had not seemed worried in any way.
Det Insp Frank Keenaghan said gardaí were very concerned about Mr Keenan’s disappearance as he had never gone missing in the past. "He was a creature of habit, he always called home," he said.
Gardaí would particularly like to speak to anyone who had seen the BMW car, registration number 99D82211, on the Lower Dargle Road overnight with its passenger window open, or anyone who had information which could assist in locating Mr O’Toole.
Supt David Taylor said anyone with information should contact gardaí at Bray on 01 666 53 00, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
Philip O’Toole has a string of convictions. He was sentenced to six months for possession of cocaine with intent to supply in 2006. A year later, he was convicted of possession of a double-barreled shotgun and ammunition, and was sentenced to four years imprisonment. He has also been convicted for trespassing with intent to burgle and possession of stolen goods, as well as a number of other public order offences.
