International Missing Children's Day

NEW APPEAL FROM LIMERICK GARDAI

Today is International Missing Children's Day and Gardai have made a fresh appeal for any information that might help establish the whereabouts of local Limerick teen Richard Kelly.

Fianna Fail's John McGuinness has put pressure on the Government today to re-establish the National missing persons helpline which has been defunct since 2003 because of a money shortage.

McGuinness said that"more effort was needed from the Irish authorities to tackle the situation".He said " funding for the missing person's helpline should be restored, while trained Gardai­ were also needed to oversee efforts to trace missing people."

The call comes as the search for the local Limerick teenager goes on.

Richard 'Happy' Kelly, who has a six-month-old son, has been missing since he left his Southill home in mid April this year. His birthday falls this Sunday and his family are adamant that birthday cards will still be bought for him.

The Limerick Blogger has a description of the young man.