Renewed appeal for information from family of man last seen in Cork in August 2023
John Keaveney, 43, is missing from Cork since the early hours of Tuesday 22 August.
A renewed appeal for information has been issued by the family of a missing Dublin man who was last seen in Cork exactly one year ago.
Dubliner John Keaveney, who is 43, has been missing since he was last seen on CCTV footage in the early hours of the morning of Monday, August 21, 2023, in the vicinity of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
A year after John’s disappearance, his family has never stopped looking for him.
John had been on holiday with his family in East Cork when he suffered an epileptic episode on Saturday, August 19, and an ambulance brought him to Cork University Hospital (CUH), where he was kept overnight.
John’s family believes he may have suffered a further epileptic episode during his time in CUH, leaving him disoriented, and John’s uncle, Cathal Keaveney, told that although CUH had wanted to keep John for a second night on Sunday for further tests, he decided to leave the hospital.
Upon leaving CUH, John went to Wilton Shopping Centre and purchased telephone charging leads, before heading into Cork city centre, where his family believes he may have visited some outlets in an effort to recharge his phone. He may still have been wearing a hospital wristband.
The last definite sighting of John is about 1am on Monday, August 21, by the Circle K petrol station on the Centre Park Road, where he appeared to be confused. Approximately 20 minutes later, CCTV footage caught an indistinct figure walking past Páirc Uí Chaoimh, heading down the nearby greenway.
John has not been seen since then.
John’s uncle Cathal told this week that the family was appealing to people to cast their minds back to August of last year.
“Anything from that night, anything unusual, anybody who seemed to be disorientated or lost, no matter how insignificant it may seem, it could be the fact that might just gives us direction,” he said.
They are also appealing to homeowners, farms, and businesses to check outhouses and remote buildings.
Volunteers have carried out extensive searches all over the eastern side of the city, he said, to no avail.
“It’s bewildering that we haven’t got anything more than a CCTV sighting of him at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, and maybe, possibly, an unconfirmed sighting by two travellers at the roundabout by Cork Airport between 4am and 5am on that Monday morning,” said Cathal.
John’s family is missing him terribly, his uncle said, describing him as “such a fantastic guy”.
“John’s mum and dad — Paul and Helen — and Susan, his sister; and his wife, Adrienne; and their three beautiful kids, Amy, who is 13, and Isobel, who is 10, and Olwen, who is seven; they’re missing John terribly,” he said.
“They’re getting on with their lives as best they can, but John’s absence is just a constant that will always be there.”
John Keaveney is described as being 5ft 9in in height, of slim build, with brown eyes and a bald head.
When last seen, John was wearing a pair of navy trousers, a grey Umbro hoodie with the Irish soccer logo, and multicoloured trainers.
Cathal Keaveney said John’s family will never be able to repay the kindness and decency of the people of Cork who have helped them this last year. “People like Caitríona and everyone at Cork Penny Dinners, everyone in Cork Missing Persons, everyone in Mallow Search and Rescue, everyone who has helped us, they will be forever in our hearts,” he said.
A Garda spokesperson told this week that the case of John Keaveney remains “a live, active investigation”.
A Mass will be held for John Keaveney in the side chapel of the Holy Trinity church at 2pm this afternoon. All are welcome.
Anyone with information on John’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111, Mayfield Garda Station on 021 455 8510, or any garda station, or to phone John’s family on the dedicated number of 083 4622598.
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