UP TO 400 volunteers took part in an extensive search yesterday for an 18-year-old Cork student who went missing at the weekend.
Caolan Mulrooney (18) was last seen shortly after 1am on Fridayhaving attended Cubins nightclub in Cork city with friends.
Search co-ordinator Sgt Ben Flahive, from Anglesea Street Garda station in the city, said he was overwhelmed by the public response to the disappearance.
“People have really got behind it. Caolan is an extremely popular guy and a talented sportsman. We are overwhelmed with the support.”
Caolan, from Rochestown in the city, is a past pupil of the Christian Brothers College and a member of Douglas GAA club. A talented sportsman, he plays hurling, rugby and Gaelic football.
His father has asked volunteers searching for his son to focus on specific areas on the south side of the city.
Speaking on Cork’s 96FM, Eugene Mulrooney said the “spirit of Cork” was driving the family on as they continued to search for their son.
“There is support from so many people. It has been absolutely incredible.”
He thanked the people of Cork, and asked them to “keep up the hope, because we need that. But we are asking for a special appeal to go to different areas than are reported today”.
The last sighting of Caolan was at 1.20am last Friday on the top of Dean Street, near Barrack Street, on the south side of the city.
Mr Mulrooney said they had established, to the best of their ability through CCTV footage, that Caolan didn’t go down or up Barrack Street. “It would suggest that he crossed over to Prosperity Square.”
He appealed on his own and his wife Margaret’s behalf for help in searching “a very large area going from Green Street to the right all the way to Douglas Street to the left. All of the area in between. Have a look outside.
“People who might have CCTV, people coming back from work that hadn’t opened their properties. The gardaí are doing a superb job but I just want to focus people’s thoughts on to that particular area.”
Mr Mulrooney said Caolan went out for the night on Thursday and lost his friends as the evening progressed.
They have been unable to trace him via his cell phone.
Gardaí, members of the Civil Defence, Coast Guard, Mallow Search and Rescue and Blackrock Search and Rescue also participated in the search.
Caolan is six feet with light brown hair and of strong athletic build. When last seen he was wearing a blue-and-white striped shirt and blue jeans.
A Twitter account has been set up by friends to help spread the word.
Well-known personalities such as former Irish and Munster international Frankie Sheahan and comedian Dara O’Briain are among those who have tweeted about Caolan as the search for him continues.
Friends of Caolan’s have also taken to Facebook to make appeals, with one student posting the words: “Caolan my man, we will find you safe and sound! We all love you.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Anglesea Street Garda station on (021) 4522000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.