THE DISAPPEARANCE of Fáilte Ireland employee Damian O’Brien more than one week ago has brought back difficult memories for the family of Trevor Deely.
Mr Deely (22), a bank employee from Naas, Co Kildare, went missing nine years ago tomorrow in Dublin.
Like Damian O’Brien, Trevor Deely was last seen in the Baggot Street area after a night out in the city centre.
Last night, the Deely family and their friends gathered for their annual prayer and liturgy service in Naas, led by Fr John Brickley. Trevor’s father Michael Deely said the service was about hope, as the family strove to remain positive.
He said they were still none the wiser about his disappearance, nine years later.
Asked if they believed he was still alive, he said: “We haven’t heard anything to the contrary anyway so we have to believe it. If you have nothing to go on, then go on the positive”.
The family is now talking to gardaí about producing an age-enhanced photograph of Mr Deely in a further effort to find him.
“Nine years is a long time and we don’t know if he has changed much,” his father continued. “A lot has happened since. Trevor has six nieces and nephews that he has never met and his sister Michelle got married.”
An intensive land and water search was mounted after Mr Deely disappeared following a Christmas party.
His family has renewed their appeals on the anniversary of his disappearance every year since.
Posters seeking help in finding Mr Deely can still be seen on lamp posts around Dublin.
CCTV footage shows him crossing Baggot Street bridge and heading in the direction of Haddington Road at 4.15am on December 8th, 2000.
Any information about Trevor Deely’s disappearance should be passed to Pearse Street Garda station at 01-666 9000.
