Concern grows over safety of teen missing with rifle

GARDAÍ are deeply concerned for the welfare of a missing teen who was mistakenly believed to have travelled to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre with a weapon earlier this week.

Jack Dinan, 19, from Ennis, Co. Clare is due to become a father soon, and is known to have disappeared in a highly distressed state, taking a legally held .22 rifle owned by a family member.

It’s understood he went missing on Tuesday after a row with a loved one. Gardaí are concerned he may harm himself, but do not believe he poses a direct threat to others.

On Wednesday evening, a member of the public contacted gardaí after spotting someone they believed matched Mr Dinan’s description in Blanchardstown shopping centre.

As it was known Mr Dinan had a gun, armed units were deployed to evacuate the centre. Mr Dinan was not present.

Last night, Chief Superintendent John Kerin appealed for Mr Dinan to come home. ‘Jack has done nothing wrong and he shouldn’t feel guilty about going missing for the past couple of days. His parents and family just want him home,’ he said.

Security sources say Mr Dinan probably has not left the Clare area.

‘He doesn’t drive and there was a rail strike on. Getting to Blanchardstown would have been difficult,’ a source told the Mail.

Mr Dinan was last seen on Considine Road, Ennis at about 10am on Tuesday. He is 6ft tall with black hair. He has a brace on his upper teeth, and may have been wearing a grey hoodie top and camouflaged jacket.