Missing girl found hours after website launch
A 15-year-old girl featured on a new missing children’s website was found tonight, just hours after the site was launched.
Madelina Rosu, who went missing in April, was found by gardaí at Dublin Port.
A Garda spokeswoman said: “The teenager’s discovery is proof it pays for both the public and gardaí to be vigilant.”
Her case was one of eight to form part of the initiative, which is also expected to become a powerful tool in tackling cases of abduction by parents.
The site uses age progression software to show how those who have been missing for many years might look now.
And it will also allow the gardai to circulate images and details of missing children internationally to other police forces.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell said in an increasingly complicated society abduction by a parent was one of the most common reasons why children went missing.
“When properly utilised, the internet can be an incredibly powerful resource for information and investigative purposes and it is appropriate we do all we can to harness its power in this particular issue.
“The issues of children going missing and their abduction are unfortunately global ones.”
As part of the website launch, the Garda Missing Persons Bureau will also publish images of how four long-term missing children might now appear as adults.
The site includes images of Mary Boyle who was almost seven years old when she disappeared in Co Donegal in 1977, and Philip Cairns who went missing while walking back to school in Dublin in 1986, aged 13.
Age progression images will also be issued of 16-year-old Rory Ahern who disappeared in Dublin in 1984 and 17-year-old Ciara Breen who vanished in Dundalk in 1997.
The Irish site will be linked to a global network of other national sites where more than 3,000 children’s cases are posted.
Gardaí said worldwide access made the site one of the most effective tools for the recovery of missing children.
The technology used on the site includes a language translator and age progression techniques successful in identifying and retrieving children years after their disappearance.
“This website provides an effective, swift and innovative tool to add to those used by the police forces of many countries when investigating missing children,” Mr McDowell said.
“In addition to its effectiveness, it has the considerable advantage that it is flexible, easy to use and easy to maintain.”
The Missing Children’s Website has been introduced with the help of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and Computer Associates who have provided the software and technology support.
