Gardaí begin dig in search for missing Dublin man

Officers target Belcamp House site as part of inquiry into Patrick Lawlor’s disappearance

Gardaí  on the grounds of the Belcamp House site in Dublin, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Patrick Lawlor (24) in 2004. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Gardaí on the grounds of the Belcamp House site in Dublin, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Patrick Lawlor (24) in 2004. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Gardaí in Dublin have begun a dig in their search for a man who went missing almost 12 years ago.

A site at Belcamp House off the Malahide Road has been cordoned off as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Patrick Lawlor (24) in 2004.

Mr Lawlor, from Darndale, Coolock, was last seen leaving the family home at 6.30am on December 16th, 2004.

His family subsequently got a tip-off that his car was at the back of Dublin Airport.

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They found the vehicle there with his jacket inside, but Mr Lawlor was never found.

Gardaí said a new search is being conducted on the grounds of the now derelict Belcamp House.

Initial site preparation works commenced on Saturday.

Gardaí expect the search to continue for up to three weeks.

The site is inaccessible to the public and sits behind a busy traffic route.

Campaign

Mr Lawlor’s family have vowed never to give up looking for him, and have sustained a high-profile campaign in the Coolock area seeking information about what happened to him.

Gardaí say the result of this search will determine the future direction of the investigation.

They have appealed to anyone who may have information on Mr Lawlor’s disappearance to contact Coolock Garda station, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800-666111 or to call in to any Garda station.