The families of two men missing since December 8th spoke yesterday of their continuing hope that their loved ones will be found.
Mr Michael Deely, the father of Trevor (22), missing from Dublin city, said Christmas for the family, who live in Naas, Co Kildare, had been "horrendous. We miss him terribly but believe he is still out there." Mr Noel Mooney, a brother of Declan (31), missing from Kilcormac, Co Offaly, said the family believed there was always the possibility he would be found.
Today up to 50 people from Castlebar, Co Mayo, where Trevor Deely's brother, Mark, lives, arrive in Dublin to intensify a poster campaign.
Trevor's siblings, Mark, Michelle and Pamela, spent Christmas Day touring locations where homeless people had gathered, hoping to find him. "He might have got a knock on the head and be wandering around dazed," said Mr Michael Deely.
The last sighting of Trevor Deely was recorded at 4.14 a.m. by CCTV at Baggot Street Bridge. He turned left towards Haddington Road and in the direction of his apartment in Serpentine Avenue. No calls have been made on his mobile phone nor any cash withdrawn from his account following this sighting.
Mr Deely is described as six feet tall, of slim build with short red hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a checked shirt and beige cord pants.
Gardai have described the disappearance as a mystery. Extensive searches of a length of the Grand Canal will resume.
Meanwhile, 20 members of Mr Declan Mooney's extended family along with friends will today launch a poster campaign in the larger towns close to the family home. Mr Mooney said yesterday his brother had had a "rough year" following the break-up of his marriage in May. He is described as five feet 10 inches in height, of thin build with short brown hair and sallow complexion. When last seen he was wearing blue denim trousers, a navy shirt, navy fleece jacket and black shoes.
The Garda water unit and sub-aqua clubs from Athlone and Banagher, Co Offaly, are conducting searches of the Silver, Brosna and Shannon rivers.
Anyone with further information on the disappearance of Mr Mooney is asked to contact Birr Garda station at (0509) 20016. Anyone with information on the disappearance of Mr Deely should contact gardai at Harcourt Terrace at (01) 666 9500.
Gardai in Cork last night appealed for assistance in tracing a 23-year-old man, Mr Padraig Crudden, of Western Road, Cork who was last seen on Christmas Eve. Mr Crudden is described as 5 feet 10 inches, of medium build with shoulderlength brown hair. Anyone with information should contact Gardai at (021) 452 2000.