‘You can’t forget ... that’s the thing with the missing’

FAMILIES of Ireland’s missing persons gathered yesterday to remember and share their stories of heartache, grief and loss.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail during the sixth annual National Missing Person’s Day in Dublin’s King’s Inn, Frank O’Neill explained that he last saw his then 16-yearold brother James 71 years ago – but remains hopeful that he is still alive and the pair can yet be reunited.

Mr O’Neill, who was just four years old when his brother disappeared, believes James stowed away on a ship he had been working on in Waterford – and for some reason never returned.

Frank, who is now in his 70s, said he believed his brother may still be alive, adding that the pain of losing him had almost destroyed his family.

He told the Mail he was appealing to social media users to help find his brother.

‘I think it’s the only way nowadays, social media and DNA testing,’ he said.

‘People say: “why don’t you just forget him”. No one knows what it’s like, you can’t forget, that is the whole thing with missing people.

‘They are missing. You can’t forget,’ he added.

‘There was an element of grief in the house from the word go.

‘I’ve tried Australia, America, and someone gave me a note that was on the shipping manifest that went from Liverpool to New York. I thought I was on a winner. But it ran cold.’

Yesterday, it was revealed that 870 people are currently missing in Ireland.

The 796 Tuam babies, who are believed to be buried in a mass grave in Galway, were also remembered at the ceremony.

The event was also addressed by, among others, representatives from Forensic Science Ireland and the Garda Commission Drew Harris.

Both are collecting DNA samples from the families of the missing to help identify remains.

Dr Dorothy Ramsbottom said that along with DNA technology an improved bone extraction technique helped with generating profiles. She said around 20 cases ‘have to be revisited’.

The event was hosted by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan.