Missing Person Search – Lucan – 16th/17th January 2015

20 January 2015

Dublin Civil Defence was tasked by An Garda Síochána to assist in a two-day search (16th and 17th January 2015) for a missing woman in the environs of St. Edmundsbury Hospital in Lucan Co. Dublin.

34 members of Dublin Civil Defence were on duty on Friday 16th January. The Civil Defence Welfare Unit established a feeding centre to provide for the needs of the search teams, while the search unit members divided into five search groups. Two search teams were deployed to the river bank, one team began their search at the Scout Den in Lucan, a third team beginning at the boundary of St. Edmundsbury land and the Hermitage Golf Course, while the remaining teams were deployed to areas of farm land in the district. The search was stood down at 4pm.

85 members of Dublin Civil Defence continued the search on Saturday 17th January, accompanied by 80 civilians, including family members of the missing woman. Five Civil Defence search teams were set up and the Welfare Unit again set up to provide food for the search teams and Gardai.

Based on previous experience searching on the Liffey, a team of specialist Swiftwater Rescuers were deployed to search the weirs and any strainers below Lucan. At 3pm a member of the Civil Defence Swiftwater Rescuers located the woman’s body which was recovered from the river with the assistance of the Garda Water Unit.

All five Dublin Civil Defence search teams were withdrawn back to the Command area for a debrief. The search proved a very successful operation and displayed the dedication and resources of the Dublin Civil Defence Unit in assisting the public in very difficult circumstances.

 

Lucan Missing Persons Search, January 2015            Lucan Missing Persons Search January 2015