The news that remains found in Limerick have been forensically identified as those of the missing Aengus ‘Gussie’ Shanahan brings to a close a long, agonising wait for his family and friends.
Gussie Shanahan would have been 38 years old since last January 23rd.
However, he had just turned 20 when he joined Ireland’s Missing Persons’ List on Friday, February 11th 2000.
Summers in Castleisland
His family and friends have never heard from him since that night, 18 years ago now.
©Photograph: John Reidy 25/3/2004.
As a child, Gussie Shanahan spent many happy summers days in Castleisland with his cousins. He was a nephew of the late John Shanahan, highly respected auctioneer, publican and doggy man in this locality.
John shared the torment of his Limerick based brother Bob and his family over the disappearance of their youngest born on that fateful February night in 2000.
Agony of the Family
He summed up the agony of the family one day thus: “At least if we knew where he is one way or the other. It mightn’t be what we want or what we hoped for – but we’d know. It’s a terror the way it is.”
The RTÉ 1 programme Crime Call featured the ‘Gussie Shanahan case’ on a couple of times on anniversaries of his disappearance. His tormented family renewed their calls and hopes that they might get the call to end the anguish of not knowing what happened to him or why he disappeared without trace on that night.
Investigating Gardai
Now investigating Gardai will now be looking into the circumstances of his disappearance and they can be contacted on:
Roxboro Garda Station: Tel 061-21 4340 or Gardai at Henry Street. Limerick at 061 21 2400. A helpline at 1890 442 552 or mobile 087 77 08112. All Information provided will be treated confidentially.
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by John Reidy 2018.
