Community bands together in search for missing Rodney
SEARCHES were continuing as we went to print for a Sligo man who has been missing since the early hours of Sunday morning. 21-year-old Rodney Horan from Collooney has not been seen since last Saturday night when he was in Sligo town.
Extensive searches took place on Monday and Tuesday along the Garavogue River and wooded areas and wetlands in the Doorly Park area.
The Coastguard Rescue 118 helicopter, the garda helicopter, members of An Garda Síochána, RNLI, Civil Defence units from across the province and other groups have all assisted in the multi-agency search.
ON Tuesday gardaí appealed to residents in the east area of Sligo Town to check their sheds, outhouses, and gardens for any trace of the missing 21-year-old.Yesterday, Wednesday, additional searches were being concentrated on the shoreline of Sligo Bay with volunteers broken into various groups to conduct on shore searches. From low tide circa 8am on Wednesday morning volunteer searches were focusing on the Garavogue River estuary at Cartron, Gibraltar, Ballincar, Comeen, Coney Island, Rosses Point and Strandhill.
Since news that Rodney was missing emerged
volunteers were out in huge numbers to assist in the various searches while gardaí were also continuing their search operation in the Doorly Park area on Wednesday morning where specialist divers joined the search.
Yesterday, Wednesday, large numbers of volunteers braved dreadful weather conditions to assist in the search, among them Rodney’s colleagues from Herron Auto where he works. A food station was set up near Doorly Park where searchers gathered in pods for briefings and for food and refreshments.
The mood was quiet but determined with searchers arriving and leaving rapidly to re-join the search after briefings from search coordinators.
By noon the wind and early morning rain had eased slightly, but conditions remained difficult. Thanking those who have already helped, the family of the missing man asked people who could, to join the search and to dress warmly. Conditions on Wednesday morning were particularly trying with heavy rain and strong onshore winds.
The Horan family have thanked the public for the huge support they have received and have asked them to continue helping with the search to bring Rodney home.
Rodney’s mum Audrey-Adams Horan has been posting regular updates on social media since she and her family became aware that her son was missing.
Gardaí have also appealed for assistance in locating Rodney. He is described as 1.77m (5’10”) in height, of medium build with brown hair and blue eyes.
When last seen he was wearing a grey ‘Gym King’ jacket, brown jumper, black jeans, black shoes, and a silver chain.
Gardaí said he was last seen on Saturday evening on the Doorly Park side of the Riverside Road. Anyone with information on Rodney’s whereabouts should contact Sligo Garda Station on 071 915 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.