Mystery of vanished tennis coach unsolved more than 20 years on

Forlorn sister hopes sibling and ‘best friend’ will some day return home ‘when he is ready’

Pearse Cremin is 5ft 8in tall, of slim build and had short red-blonde hair when last seen.

The disappearance of a young tennis coach 21 years ago today continues to baffle relatives who say his mood was upbeat when last seen on Halloween night in 2000.

Siobhán Cremin, sister of Pearse Cremin, says she cannot believe her brother is now missing more than two decades. She stresses that the tide of sadness from his absence never ebbs.

“I can’t believe it has been 21 years. Please God someone will come forward and tell us what happened. To say I miss my best friend – my go-to [person] when times get rough is an understatement. I honestly hope someone can give us some answers to all our questions.”

Ms Cremin says she has never given up hope that her brother will return home “when he is ready”.

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Monica Cremin, mother of the missing man who hails from Glasheen Road in Cork city, died last year. She lived in a nursing home prior to her death.

Towards the end of her life she often forgot that her son had disappeared and asked her adult children if she could phone him. They ended up having to tell her his phone was broken.

Any sightings?

Pearse, who was 28 when he vanished, was the only person in his family who ate mayonnaise. In the early years of his absence his sister Monica bought a jar for the fridge which she replaced on a regular basis in case he came home. Her logic was that she needed to be able to offer him a sandwich if he turned up on her doorstep.

Mrs Cremin also kept a scrapbook of articles about her missing son.

A week after he disappeared Pearse was spotted filling up his car at a service station in Cork by someone who knew him.

A person fitting Pearse’s description also called on Christmas Eve 2000 to a guesthouse in MacCurtain Street, Cork. He was looking for a room but the guesthouse was full. Since then there hasn’t been a trace of the popular coach.

Pearse is described as 5ft 8in tall, of slim buildand had short red-blonde hair when last seen.

Anyone with information should contact gardaí in Anglesea Street, Cork, on 021-4522000.