The search for a man reported missing from his home in Co Laois last Friday has been concentrated in the West Clare area.
Late on Saturday night, Gardaí issued a public appeal for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 51-year-old Tom Raftery from Portarlington who was last seen in Portlaoise at approximately 10:15pm on Friday night.
He is described as being approximately 5 foot 8 inches in height, with grey hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing a grey fleece gilet, dark long sleeve t-shirt, blue jeans and grey shoes. Gardaí and Tom’s family are concerned for his wellbeing.
Gardaí confirmed that Tom is believed to have access to a white 231-LS registered Dacia Duster. It’s now understood that this car was located in the Kilkee area on Saturday night.
Gardaí quickly mounted a search and requested assistance from the Irish Coast Guard and Clare Civil Defence.
Kilkee Coast Guard volunteers commenced a search in the Kilkee area and were joined by Civil Defence drone and land search teams. Members of the missing man’s family are also understood to have travelled to Clare to assist with the search.
The search resumed on Monday morning with the Shannon based search and rescue helicopter, Rescue 115, and personnel from Ballybunion Coast Guard also joined the search effort.
During the week, drone teams from the Doolin and Killaloe units of the Coast Guard as well as Clare Civil Defence conducted further searches
Anyone with information on Tom’s whereabouts is asked to contact Portlaoise Garda Station on 057 867 4100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.
