THE disappearance of a 14 year old schoolgirl five days before Christmas has baffled her parents and the Garda.
Katie English left the foster home where she has lived for more than four years at Elton Estate, Cobh, Co Cork, on Friday, December 20th, for her last day in school before the Christmas holiday.
Dressed in her bottle green Colaiste Mhuire uniform, she waved goodbye to her foster mother, Mrs Kit Stoat, and left or school. She has not been seen since.
Her foster parents, Kit and Noel, and her natural mother, Ms Katie O'Mahony, joined forces yesterday in an effort to trace the slim teenager who is described as not being "streetwise".
Ms O'Mahony arrived in Cobh just before Christmas from London after receiving the news that her daughter was missing. She has been searching the streets and nightclubs of Cork city in the hope that she might find Katie.
She said: "This is totally out of character for her. She never caused her foster parents any trouble. She does not have to come searching for either myself or her father, who lives in Cahir, Co Tipperary, because she knows where we are.
"We have remained in constant and regular touch and her last letter about two weeks ago was full of news with no indication that anything was wrong."
Ms O'Mahony said she is deeply concerned for her daughter's safety and well being.
"Katie did not go out at night. She did not hang around with a bad crowd and she was very selective about her friends. She is alone and vulnerable and I fear she may be in danger if she has turned to strangers to help her."
Both sets of parents are devastated by the teenager's disappearance.
After she failed to return home from school, Mrs Stoat discovered that Katie did not turn up to sit her final Christmas exam but she has ruled out any problems in that respect, as her foster daughter was a bright student.
She later discovered that Katie had packed her toothbrush and her two favourite outfits, black and white baggy trousers and blue check trousers, grey jumpers and Uila track shoes. She was wearing her green zip jacket when she left home in her uniform.
"We just don't understand what has happened. She was normal and happy and gave us no indication that anything was wrong. She did not even tell her closest friends she intended leaving. She never gave us any trouble and was treated as a member of the family. She was our daughter and we love her very much.
"If she does not want to come back home then we must accept that, but all we want now is for her to contact us or her friends and let us know that she is all right.
"Christmas for all the family has been a non event," said Mrs Stoat, as she pointed to Katie's Christmas presents still under the brightly decorated Christmas tree.
Gardai in Cobh admit they are concerned for Katie's safety. A spokesman said she was not the kind of girl to get into trouble or to cause trouble. They have checked with her friends, but no one knows her whereabouts.
Katie is slim, 5 ft 2in, with a pale complexion, dark hair and blue eyes.
Anyone with any information should contact Cobh gardai at 021 811333.