DNA advances ends 18 year search for missing man

DNA advances have helped end 18 years of turmoil and pain for the family of Aengus ‘Gussie’ Shanahan whose remains were identified on Tuesday.

The 20-year old Limerick man, who has strong ties to Kerry and spent a lot of his childhood in the county, went missing in February 2001.

Until Tuesday the family had no idea what happened to the young man.

Gussie’s mother Nancy, who is from Kenmare, passed way in 2016, heartbroken as she never knew the location of her son’s body. She suffered a stroke following his disappearance and her dying wish was to find her son’s remains.

His father, Bob Shanahan, who is now 73 years of age, is originally from Ballymacelligott and there are still family living in Kerry. His uncle is the late John Shanahan who ran Shanahan’s bar in Castleisland. The family also have ties to Tralee.

‘Gussie’ from Ashbrook, Ennis Road, Limerick was reported missing by his family on February 11, 2000.

On the night in question he finished work in Dell, Castletroy, Limerick and went out to Coopers Bar on St Joseph’s Street. He was last seen walking on Old School House Lane, which connects with Barrington Street.

On the October 28, 2001, partial remains were discovered by the Bunratty Search and Rescue team and on Tuesday these remains were confirmed as his remains thanks to DNA technology.

The DNA confirmation ends years of worry for his family in Limerick and in Kerry.

It is still not known what happened Mr Shanahan but his family believe he was murdered.

Fr Aquinas Duffy, a cousin of Mr Shanahan, set up the website missing.ie in his memory and which now helps other families in the same position as the Shanahan family.

Over the years the family have issued heartfelt pleas in their search for Gussie Shanahan, including to Kerry people seeking any information on his whereabouts.

Gardaí in Limerick have now reopened their investigation and are appealing for information from the public.