Missing (33 page)

T
his book would not have been possible without the kind assistance of many families of missing people. These families kindly gave me their time and
hospitality, and shared many painful memories. I am conscious that missing people have become something of a ‘commodity’, with certain journalists wildly speculating about what might
have happened to them, without thinking of the effect such insensitive reporting may have on the relatives of those missing people. This book deals with a number of missing people who have been
murdered; in other cases the families of the missing people are not in a position to state categorically what they believe happened, and they still hold out hope that their loved ones may yet walk
through the front door. To every one of the families of the missing people featured in this book I offer my profound thanks for your time and your trust.

In particular I say thank you to Nancy and John McCarrick, whose only daughter, Annie, was abducted and murdered in Ireland in 1993. I also thank Mary and Martin Phelan and Kathleen and
Séamus Bergin. Mary and Kathleen’s sister Jo Jo Dullard was abducted and murdered in 1995; Mary continues to campaign vigorously for more action to be taken by the Gardaí and
the state to find missing people; through the Jo Jo Dullard Memorial Trust she has ensured that missing people will never be forgotten. I thank Josephine Pender, whose daughter Fiona was abducted
and murdered in 1996 while seven months pregnant. Josephine’s remarkable fortitude in the face of a number of tragedies should be a source of inspiration to all. I thank Bernadette Breen,
whose only child, Ciara, was abducted and murdered in 1997. Bernadette’s remarkable bravery is matched only by her love for her missing child. I also express profound thanks to Caroline and
Diane Sinnott, whose younger sister Fiona disappeared in 1998. Thank you for your time and trust.

Two families have been devastated by the loss of a child in unexplained circumstances. I thank Ann and Charlie Boyle, whose daughter Mary disappeared in 1977; your hospitality and openness will
not be forgotten. I thank also Alice and Philip Cairns, whose young son Philip was abducted while walking to school in 1986, for their kindness and the many hours spent discussing the most painful
of subjects. I thank also Collette McCann, whose sister Eva Brennan disappeared in 1993.

In deference to a request from her family, one missing woman is not referred to by name in this book. I would also like to thank that family for their time.

Many members of the Garda Síochána gave invaluable assistance in the research on each of the missing persons cases featured in this book. Ultimately the Gardaí were talking
about investigations that have failed so far to reach a conclusion. Their frustrations at failing to solve each missing person case, and in some cases to catch murderers, were clearly evident
during our conversations, briefings, and formal interviews.

In particular I thank Superintendent John Farrelly of the Garda Press Office for his continuous assistance during my research. I also thank Garda Damien Hogan of the Garda Press Office for his
invaluable help in obtaining background information. Thank you to all the team at the Garda Press Office for dealing so efficiently with my queries.

I thank Assistant Commissioner Tony Hickey, who oversaw the establishment of Operation Trace in 1998, which sought to establish whether there were links between any of the cases of missing women
in Leinster. I thank also Superintendent Jerry O’Connell (retired), who headed Operation Trace. I thank the gardaí who worked as part of the Operation Trace team: Alan Bailey, Pat
Treacy, Mark Kerrigan, Maura Walsh, and Marianne Cusack.

I thank the following retired and serving gardaí, all of whom gave of their time without hesitation: Chief Superintendent Martin Donnellan, Chief Superintendent John O’Brien,
Superintendent Tony Brislane, Superintendent John McFadden, Superintendent Tony Sourke, Superintendent Bill McMunn (retired), Superintendent Michael Duffy (retired), Superintendent Gerry Murray
(retired), Inspector John Dunleavy, Detective-Sergeant Declan Goode, Detective-Sergeant Tom Doyle, Detective-Sergeant Con Nolan, Detective-Sergeant Pat Campbell, Detective-Sergeant Joe Molloy,
Detective-Sergeant Gary Kavanagh, Detective Sergeant Aidan Murray (retired), Detective-Sergeant Mick Dalton, Sergeant Seán Leydon, Detective-Garda Aubrey Steedman, Detective-Garda Mary
Fallon, Detective-Garda Val Smith (retired), Detective-Garda Noel Lynagh (retired), and Detective-Garda John Harrington (retired).

There are other gardaí who, because of the nature of the information they imparted, cannot be named. Thank you to each one of you for your time and trust.

I thank also the many other people who gave of their time during the writing of this book. In relation to my research into the disappearance of Annie McCarrick I thank her former boy-friend
Dermot Ryan, her friend Geraldine Delaney, and her former college lecturer Father Mícheál Mac Gréil. I thank also Jo Jo Dullard’s friend Mary Cullinane, and also the
photographer Edward Cody. I thank John McGuinness TD, who campaigns alongside Jo Jo’s sister Mary for the establishment of a specialist Garda National Missing Persons Unit. I thank also Fiona
Pender’s friend Emer Condron, who continues to campaign to raise awareness about missing people. I thank Ciara Breen’s former tutor Rosaleen Bishop and the journalists Eoin McGarvey in
Co. Donegal and David Tucker in Co. Wexford.

I thank all the staff at Gill & Macmillan, especially the Publishing Director, Fergal Tobin, for giving me the opportunity to write this book.

I thank my friends in journalism, both in crime reporting and beyond, for their interest and support, especially my colleagues at the Four Courts and in Today FM. I thank also my former boss
Barry Flynn for giving me my first break in journalism, and the staff of St Mark’s Community School in Tallaght.

On a personal level I would like to thank my parents, Patricia O’Neill and Barry Cummins, and my brother Mark for their constant support and interest. Finally, I especially thank Grace for
all her enthusiasm, guidance and suggestions, and without whom I could not have completed this book.

Gill & Macmillan
Hume Avenue
Park West
Dublin 12
Ireland
with associated companies throughout the world
www.gillmacmillanbooks.ie

© Barry Cummins 2003, 2010
First published by Gill & Macmillan 2003; second edition 2010
This ebook edition published by Gill & Macmillan 2012

978 07171 4838 8 (print)
978 07171 5147 9 (epub)
978 07171 5206 3 (mobi)

Cover design by Anú Design (www.anu-design.ie)
Cover photographs courtesy of families of Jo Jo Dullard, Fiona Pender and Annie McCarrick. Age-progressed image courtesy of family of Philip Cairns

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without permission of the publishers.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

The website addresses referred to in this book were correct at the time of first publication.

About the Author

Barry Cummins
is a news journalist with RTÉ and the author of four bestsellers,
Missing
,
Lifers
,
Unsolved
and
Without
Trace
. He previously worked as the Crime Correspondent with Today FM, where he was the recipient of two Justice in Media Awards.

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