Major search for missing teacher
Wednesday March 10 2010
A MAJOR search operation, involving up to 200 volunteers, is under way in New Ross for a missing 26year-old Gorey teacher.
Seamus Flahive, a native of Dingle, Co. Kerry was last seen on Tuesday, March 2, however his car was located in New Ross on Saturday morning by Gardaí.
Following the discovery of the missing man's blue Limerick registered Nissan Almeria, Gardaí mounted a search operation, involving the assistance of the New Ross River Search and Rescue, the Civil Defense and the Irish Coast Guard Helicopter based in Waterford.
Over the weekend hundreds of volunteers, including fifty family and friends from Kerry, descended on New Ross, with the River Barrow and its surrounding banks the focus of the intensive search.
'There is no evidence to say this individual entered the river. We are keeping an open mind,' said a spokesperson for New Ross Garda Station. Seamus Flahive is described as being 6'1 (1.85 m) of medium build with brown eyes and brown hair with a slight beard. He was last seen wearing dark blue jeans, white zip-up top and white runners. He is also described as politely spoken, with a soft Kerry accent.
Gardaí are now appealing to local farmers on both sides of the River Barrow to help with the search by checking their land adjacent to the river. Investigating officers are also interested in trying to trace the movements of both Seamus Flahive and his car, bearing a registration plate 99 LK 4401, between last Tuesday, when the 26-year-old was last seen, and on Saturday, when he car was discovered parked on the quayside in New Ross.
