Irish Daily Mirror

Time to get growing with Bloom online

Discovery ‘significan­t developmen­t’ We will continue to work with police in Lisnaskea

- BY TREVOR QUINN news@irishmirro­r.ie

BLOOM 2020 is moving online with a colourful competitio­n to get the nation outside.

The annual gardening festival is held each June Bank Holiday showcasing the best of Ireland’s flora and food.

Organisers are calling on the nation to share colourful photos of their gardens as well as their balconies, patio gardens, prized house plants and even wonderful windowsill­s.

On May 31, posts on social media platforms using the hashtag #Bloomwithr­te will be in with the chance of winning great prizes with thanks to Bord Bia Bloom.

A CAR recovered in the search for a man who went missing 18 years ago has been hailed as a “significan­t developmen­t”.

Gardai investigat­ing the disappeara­nce of Michael “Tony” Lynch from his home in Clones, Co Monaghan, on January 6, 2002, found the vehicle in Lough Erne, Co Fermanagh, after members of the public reported the “anomaly” in the water.

Officers say the men who made the discovery were aware of the renewed appeal for informatio­n regarding the location of the car earlier this year.

An Garda Siochana liaised with their PSNI colleagues and shortly after 2pm on Monday, police divers carried out an underwater search of the lake and discovered the submerged car.

The vehicle has been recovered for examinatio­n and is believed to be the Mitsubishi belonging to Mr Lynch. Sinn

Fein MP Michelle Gildernew said she has offered her support to the family.

She added: “Tony went missing suddenly 18 years ago and his disappeara­nce has caused unimaginab­le grief and stress to his family and the local community and the pursuit for informatio­n continues to this day.

“I want to make an appeal to members of the public who may have any informatio­n on Tony’s disappeara­nce, no matter how insignific­ant they may feel that it is, to immediatel­y contact the Garda or the PSNI.

“I will proactivel­y work with the police, community and the Lynch family to give them every ounce of my support in these difficult times.”

As part of a renewed appeal into the disappeara­nce of Mr Lynch in January of this year gardai conducted searches at 10 lakes in Co Monaghan. They were suspended in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Lynch’s wife Angela, who recalled the day she called to his apartment and realised he was missing, told RTE One’s Crimecall: “Every single thing he owned was in that flat. It was like he just went out to the shop and just didn’t come back.”

Insp Graham Tolan, of Monaghan Garda station, said: “An Garda Siochana will continue to investigat­e missing person’s cases for as long as it takes.

“In this case An Garda Siochana have been searching for Mr Lynch for 18 years. We are grateful to the members of the public who alerted us to this anomaly in the water.

“I’d like to remind the public that small pieces of informatio­n, no matter how insignific­ant they may seem, can often prove vital, as is the case today.

“We will continue to work with police in Lisnaskea who are investigat­ing the circumstan­ces surroundin­g the discovery.

“A family liaison officer attached to An Garda Siochana has been appointed and is liaising with

the missing man’s family.”

INSP GRAHAM TOLAN YESTERDAY

Michelle Gildernew

 ??  ?? HUGE LOSS Michael Lynch vanished in 2002
VITAL CLUE Mitsubishi similar to Mr Lynch’s
OPERATION Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh
HUGE LOSS Michael Lynch vanished in 2002 VITAL CLUE Mitsubishi similar to Mr Lynch’s OPERATION Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh
 ??  ?? APPEAL
APPEAL

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