Written answers
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Department of Justice and Equality
Missing Persons Data
Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of all missing persons from the State and the dates of their disappearances in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38694/16]
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The following table shows the number of persons recorded as Missing Persons each year since 1951 who remain recorded as missing:
Year | No. of Persons | Year | No. of Persons | Year | No. of Persons | Year | No. of Persons | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | 2 | 1967 | 2 | 1984 | 9 | 2001 | 54 | |||
1952 | 2 | 1968 | 5 | 1985 | 6 | 2002 | 59 | |||
1953 | 2 | 1969 | 6 | 1986 | 13 | 2003 | 48 | |||
1954 | 4 | 1970 | 1 | 1987 | 6 | 2004 | 32 | |||
1955 | 1 | 1971 | 3 | 1988 | 8 | 2005 | 20 | |||
1956 | 4 | 1972 | 6 | 1989 | 7 | 2006 | 40 | |||
1957 | 2 | 1973 | 2 | 1990 | 9 | 2007 | 40 | |||
1958 | 0 | 1974 | 0 | 1991 | 5 | 2008 | 32 | |||
1959 | 1 | 1975 | 2 | 1992 | 4 | 2009 | 45 | |||
1960 | 0 | 1976 | 3 | 1993 | 8 | 2010 | 15 | |||
1961 | 3 | 1977 | 6 | 1994 | 9 | 2011 | 22 | |||
1962 | 1 | 1978 | 6 | 1995 | 8 | 2012 | 15 | |||
1963 | 2 | 1979 | 4 | 1996 | 7 | 2013 | 10 | |||
1964 | 0 | 1980 | 5 | 1997 | 2 | 2014 | 10 | |||
1965 | 3 | 1981 | 5 | 1998 | 6 | 2015 | 37 | |||
1966 | 1 | 1982 | 5 | 1999 | 13 | 2016 | 51* | |||
1983 | 5 | 2000 | 12 |
* The figure of 51 outstanding missing persons for 2016 appears disproportionately high as the data is taken from PULSE which is a ‘live’ database and as such is operational and will decline in the coming months when those current investigations are concluded.
All incidents remain under investigation where the person reported missing has not been located and such cases are reviewed by An Garda Síochána on a regular basis.
The Deputy's question is timely as tomorrow, 7 December 2016, I will be hosting a ceremony at Farmleigh House to mark Ireland's national Missing Persons Day.
The objective of Missing Persons Day is to commemorate all those who have gone missing and recognise the lasting trauma for their families and friends. Missing Persons Day also draws attention to open or unsolved missing persons cases, and creates an opportunity to provide information on available support services. Missing Persons Day is an annual day of commemoration and takes place on the first Wednesday in December each year.
This year's ceremony will mark the fourth year for Ireland's national Missing Persons Day. The ceremony will be attended by families and friends of missing persons, as well as a number of organisations working in the community on their behalf. An Garda Síochána will also be in attendance at the ceremony, notably the Missing Persons Bureau and many Family Liaison Officers. Further information on National Missing Persons Day is available from missingpersonsday@justice.ie.
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